DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel are stationed at each location overseas.

Bob Ainsworth: Data on the number of UK Regular service personnel stationed at each location overseas as at 1 October 2008 are available in TSP 10 'UK Regular Forces Stationed Location', Table 1.1. This can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/apps/publications/pubViewFile.php?content=1800.1&date=2009-02-23&type=html&PublishTime=09:30:00
	Copies of TSP 10 are available in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Hearing Impaired

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an assessment of the need to provide for hearing specialists at Camp Bastion hospital to treat servicemen and women whose hearing has been affected by explosions or the use of munitions.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 10 March 2009
	The medical facilities at Camp Bastion already include the means of examining the hearing of personnel who have been exposed to explosions or the use of munitions, and medical staff at Camp Bastion already institute hearing conservation measures when audiometry indicates that it is appropriate to do so for an individual.
	The Ministry of Defence takes the issue of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) seriously and we are continually looking at ways of monitoring and mitigating the risk in operational scenarios, including the development of improved hearing protection, while not hampering the operational effectiveness of combat personnel. A study is currently under way to determine the numbers of personnel that have been affected by acute acoustic trauma, the results of which will help to inform future policy on treatment and the provision of specialist support. I have met with The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) to discuss how they can further assist us and it has been agreed that they will have a representative at the Surgeon General's Working Group on Hearing Loss.

Armed Forces: Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 20W, on armed forces: housing, if he will make an assessment of the reasons for the changes in numbers of houses at grade  (a) one and  (b) four for charge between 2005 and 2007.

Kevan Jones: Given the way Grade for Charge data are collated officials need to identify and analyse information to answer this question. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Leave

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms are in place for the granting of home leave to  (a) recent recruits and  (b) personnel under the age of 18 in the armed forces.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 16 March 2009
	All service personnel have the same basic allocation of leave although recent recruits, including under-18s, may have leave restricted according to the stage of training they are undertaking. Compassionate leave, however, is always accessible on a case by case basis. It should also be noted that under-18s must provide evidence that they will be suitably accommodated while on leave.
	Personnel in the first three years of full-time service are entitled to Get You Home Early Years Scheme which provides assistance (rail warrants or mileage claim) with leave travel up to four times a year.

Defence: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the UK has in  (a) supporting and  (b) participating in the work of the NATO Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The United Kingdom is fully supportive of this Estonian-hosted Cyber Defence initiative and their endeavours in this important area. However, given the need to co-ordinate Cyber Defence with a number of other Government Departments and Allies, the MOD's preferred means of support is via virtual participation rather than attach personnel permanently to Estonia. The United Kingdom is not a founding signatory nation to this Centre of Excellence (CoE) but this position will be kept under review.
	Both the Head of the MOD Defence Security and Safety Assurance organisation and a senior officer from the MOD's Joint Security Co-ordination Centre (JSyCC) have visited the Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCD CoE) and have subsequently provided additional assistance to its development over the past two years.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what IT security strategy his Department has in place; what steps are being taken to ensure the strategy is being followed; what policy is in place on the use of encryption when data are sent externally; and what sanctions are in place for use should the policy not be followed;
	(2)  what IT security policy his Department has; what procedures are in place to ensure the policy is being followed; what his Department's policy is on encryption of data when it leaves departmental premises; and what sanctions are in place for failure to comply with this policy.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 26 February 2009
	Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	The Department is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance. Depending upon the circumstances, a range of sanctions are available including disciplinary or administrative action, and in extreme or persistent cases, termination of employment/services and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings.

Departmental Data Protection

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 December 2008,  Official Report, column 333W, to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes).

Joint Strike Fighter

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Mid Sussex, of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, when he expects a decision on the integration of future weapons capability to be made.

Quentin Davies: In order to provide Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) with an initial baseline air to air and precision air to ground capability, a decision has already been made to integrate Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile and Paveway IV on to the aircraft. We plan to make decisions on the integration of the weapons systems in good time before the introduction to service of the JSF.

Met Office

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the Shareholder Executive as part of the Government's Trading Fund Review in advance of the 2009 Budget.

Kevan Jones: As part of the Department's Owners Advisory Council for each of its trading funds, Defence Ministers were briefed by a Shareholder Executive official on both the Trading Fund Assessment study, and on the Asset Management Strand of the Operational Efficiency Programme. I discussed the subject separately last November in a meeting attended by a Shareholder Executive official.

Navy: Military Bases

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of relocating ships' personnel and their families from Plymouth to  (a) Portsmouth and  (b) Faslane in each of the last 10 years.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has engaged any  (a) actors,  (b) musicians and  (c) other performers to support its initiatives over the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Many actors, musicians or performers have worked to support MOD initiatives either voluntarily or having been engaged by a third party.

Submarines: Accidents

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's estimate in its risk assessments of the probability of a British nuclear submarine colliding at sea with a foreign nuclear submarine was prior to 3 February.

John Hutton: My Department was satisfied that the estimate of the risk of a collision at sea between a British SSBN and a foreign nuclear submarine prior to 3 February was extremely low.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Fairtrade Initiative

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what representations she has received from Tearfund on fair trade products and the 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: We can find no record of representations from Tearfund on fair trade products for the London 2012 Games.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not offer its staff Christmas bonus payments or additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping.

Churches: Conservation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much in Heritage Fund grants has been made available for the preservation of historic churches in the last 12 months.

Barbara Follett: The Heritage Lottery Fund advises that, for the financial period 2007-08, the fund awarded £30,013,041 to conserve the fabric of 531 historic churches and chapels.

Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department  (a) has undertaken and  (b) plans to undertake in respect of its policy on (i) economic competitiveness and (ii) quality of life for residents of seaside towns in England with specific reference to sporting and cultural activities and amenities.

Barbara Follett: At the tourism summit convened by VisitBritain on 8 January this year, we considered ways to help support the industry, including that in seaside towns, through the economic downturn and beyond. We will continue to work with our NDPBs and the industry to maximise the economic competitiveness of our sectors, and people's quality of life through the provision of sporting and cultural activities and amenities, in seaside towns and other communities across the country.
	The Department also has a programme specifically for seaside towns, known as Sea Change. It places culture at the heart of efforts to regenerate England's seaside resorts through investment in arts, public space, cultural assets and heritage projects. The scheme, which will run for three years from 2008-11, and which will dispense £45 million in total, will encourage new visitors to coastal areas and help to support and enrich existing communities. It is being delivered through a partnership involving Arts Council England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the regional development agencies.

Departmental Absenteeism

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff of his Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate he has made of the (i) cost to his Department and (ii) number of working hours lost due to such absence; and what guidance his Department issued to staff in respect of absence on these days.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The offices of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport were closed at 3 pm on 2 February owing to a lack of security staff caused by travel restrictions caused by the extreme weather. On 3 February 2009, we estimate that around 40 per cent. of staff attended the office. We do not hold central records of absence or the hours worked by staff on the relevant days and are not able to make an estimate of (i) the cost to the Department nor (ii) the number of working hours lost.
	On the days in question, staff were able to access information about whether the offices were closed on the internet and recovery phone line.
	Further guidance was issued on 5 February, reminding staff that when DCMS buildings are open staff are expected to take all reasonable steps to get into work without endangering themselves; that if they cannot get to the office they must notify their line manager that morning; and that if they do not notify their line manager they will be expected to take any days out of the office as annual or unpaid leave.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with which banks his Department has or has had contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has held an agreement with Goldman Sachs for the provision of financial advice in connection with the possible sale of the Tote.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No staff in my Department have been disciplined or had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record over the last 12 months.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Gerry Sutcliffe: During the period 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009 the following items were lost or stolen.
	
		
			  Item  Date  Lost/Stolen  Estimated cost of replacement (£) 
			 Memory stick March 2008 Lost 10 
			 Disk drive May 2008 Lost 22 
			 Mobile phone May 2008 Lost 100 
			 Blackberry May 2008 Stolen 195 
			 Blackberry 29 January 2009 Stolen 195 
			 Mobile phone 25 February 2009 Lost 100 
		
	
	During the period 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009 the following three works of art have gone missing from the Government Art Collection and are still missing.
	 GACL90—'Monument to Balance', 4/30 print by Ernest A. Dunn
	Reported missing from British consulate-general, Sao Paulo, July 2008
	Estimated cost of replacement: £100
	 GAC12775—'The Wording of Police Charges', 37/150 1970 print by R.  B. Kitaj
	 GAC1275—  ' Plague ', 37/150 1970 print by R.  B. Kitaj
	Both reported missing from British embassy, Baku, July 2008
	Estimated cost of replacement: £500 each.

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in respect of which projects each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies will receive ring-fenced funding in each of the next three years; and what the cost of each such project will be.

Andy Burnham: At the conclusion of Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 negotiations, only funding to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and funding to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC) for Renaissance in the Regions and the Government Indemnity Scheme, were depicted as being ring-fenced. ODA funding, which represents the maximum expected cost to the Exchequer, is broken down as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 1559 
			 2009-10 1014 
			 2010-11 1050 
		
	
	This answer does not include the funding amounts for MLAC, which were detailed in my answer on 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 2276-78W, to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt).
	Funding for 2011-12 for the Department's non-departmental public bodies falls outside of the current spending review period, and will be the subject of detailed negotiation at a later date.

Government Olympic Executive

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on  (a) administration and  (b) staff salaries in each of the last five years; and what proportion of each has been spent on the Government Olympic Executive.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is set out in the table. As the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) was formed in 2005, the table does not show data for the years prior to that.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Financial year  Net DCMS administration cost  O f which :  GOE administration cost  DCMS staff salaries cost  O f which :  GOE staff salaries cost 
			 2007-08 54,426 5,538 26,040 2,870 
			 2006-07 51,071 3,101 24,860 1,689 
			 2005-06 46,673 1,395 22,191 678 
			 2004-05 40,452 (1)— 19,814 (1)— 
			 2003-04 39,335 (1)— 18,657 (1)— 
			 (1) Not applicable

National Lottery: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on promoting  (a) national lottery games and  (b) Olympic lottery games in each quarter since the launch of the Olympic lottery.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 16 March 2009
	Under the terms of the licence to operate the national lottery, Camelot is required to spend a minimum amount per annum on marketing national lottery games for the benefit of good causes. The annual levels are calculated according to a formula laid down in the licence. The minimum marketing expenditure (MME) for each financial year from 2005-06 is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Minimum marketing expenditure (£) 
			 2005-06 75,000,000 
			 2006-07 73,391,484 
			 2007-08 74,527,248 
		
	
	As the commercial operator, it is at Camelot's discretion to spend in excess of the MME as required to ensure the effective promotion of national lottery games. Camelot have advised that quarterly breakdowns of promotional expenditure on national lottery games is considered to be a matter of commercial sensitivity and should not be released.
	Camelot have advised that it is not possible to disaggregate expenditure on promoting Olympic lottery games from the rest of the portfolio as they consider that this information would be commercially sensitive.

National Lottery: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much has been spent by the national lottery promotions unit in 2008-09;
	(2)  what the budget for the national lottery promotions unit is for 2008-09.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 16 March 2009
	Between 1 April 2008 and 31 December 2008, the national lottery promotions unit (NLPU) spent £1,609,351 delivering public relations campaigns that enable the public to access information about lottery funding and the difference it is making to their communities.
	All work is independently evaluated and assessed and in the period 1 April 2008 to 31 December 2008 it was estimated that the NLPU had delivered activity with a value of over £54,407,032 which represents a return on investment of 33:1. Figures for the last three months of the financial year are not yet available.
	For the current financial year the national lottery promotions unit has a budget of £2,667,121.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department has engaged any  (a) actors,  (b) musicians and  (c) other performers to support its initiatives over the last five years.

Barbara Follett: The Department and its non-departmental public bodies regularly draw upon the talents of individuals within the sectors that fall under the Department's responsibility, but a list is not held centrally.

Public Houses

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to publish the Government's response to the findings of the Community Pubs Inquiry report.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 March 2009
	The recommendations in the Community Pubs Inquiry report cover the policy interests of several Government Departments. Consequently it has taken time to collate a Government response. However, our report is being finalised and we hope to respond shortly.

Royal Parks Agency: Finance

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what revenues have been raised by the Royal Parks Agency in each Royal Park from  (a) car park charges,  (b) fixed penalty notices,  (c) other fines and  (d) other revenues in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 16 March 2009
	The Royal Parks (TRP) advise that there are visitor parking facilities in five of London's eight Royal Parks: Hyde park, Regent's park, Greenwich park, Richmond park and Bushey park.
	TRP advise that there is no charge at present for parking in Richmond or Bushey parks, but parking charges have applied in Hyde park and Regent's park since 1994 and in Greenwich park since 2000. Revenue received by TRP from parking charges over the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		
			  Car parking 
			  £000 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Hyde park 256 265 282 339 320 
			 Regent's park 498 553 630 782 896 
			 Greenwich park 106 148 157 196 252 
			 Total 860 966 1,069 1,317 1,468 
		
	
	The figures shown above include income from excess charge notices (penalties for failing to display a valid parking ticket), which break down as follows:
	
		
			  Excess charge notices 
			  £000 
			   2003-04( 1)  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Hyde park 2.5 23 35 50 53 
			 Regent's park 5 38 59 87 99 
			 Greenwich park 4 29 39 45 47 
			 Total 11.5 90 133 182 199 
			 (1 )Records are not available for the period prior to December 2003 
		
	
	TRP does not receive any revenue from fixed penalty notices or other fines, but receives revenue from catering and other concessions, from fees for events, permits and licences, and from rents. Over the past five years these revenues, park by park, were as follows:
	
		
			  Other revenue 
			  £000 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Hyde park 2,139 2,484 2,365 2,622 2,602 
			 St. James's park 608 1,015 1,114 1,274 1,796 
			 Kensington Gardens 226 188 266 340 302 
			 The Regent's park 699 678 1,268 1,086 1,282 
			 Greenwich park 177 184 224 275 280 
			 Richmond park 338 544 628 759 906 
			 Bushy park 181 147 165 180 210 
			 Total 4,368 5,240 6,030 6,536 7,378 
		
	
	These figures exclude grants for agency-wide projects, which are managed centrally.

Sport England

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what date he expects the Sport England Strategy for 2008 to 2011 to have been implemented.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 6 March 2009
	Sport England's new strategy runs between April 2008 and March 2011, and implementation is ongoing during this period.
	A key element of the strategy is Sport England's investment in national governing bodies of sport (NGBs). 46 NGBs have been commissioned to deliver specific outcomes over four years, contributing to the outcomes Sport England has committed to achieving, including 1 million more people engaged in sport by 2012-13.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Training

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has provided voice coaching to any of its employees in the last 12 months.

Ann McKechin: My Office has not provided voice coaching for staff in the last 12 months.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Training

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has provided voice coaching to any of its employees in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office has not provided voice coaching for any employees in the last 12 months.

Sexual Offences: Prosecutions

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of sex offences in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The data are not in the format requested as only case-based data are available. As several persons may be involved in a crime and only one person is required to clear a crime that has been committed, it is only possible to give the number of cases of sexual offences that were cleared by means of a charge or summons. This information is documented in Table 1 for the years 2002-03 to 2007-08.
	 (b) Table 2 documents those convicted of a sexual offence for the calendar years 2001 to 2006 (the latest years for which data are available). Data are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	It is not possible to compare the data provided in the two tables as those relating to Table 1 are case-based while those relating to Table 2 are person-based.
	
		
			  Table 1: Sexual offences crimes cleared by means of a charge or summons 2002-03 to 2007-08 
			   Number 
			 2002-03 236 
			 2003-04 355 
			 2004-05 311 
			 2005-06 304 
			 2006-07 337 
			 2007-08 314 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  C onvictions for sexual offences 2001-06 
			   Number 
			 2001 112 
			 2002 84 
			 2003 108 
			 2004 137 
			 2005 136 
			 2006 161

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Assaults on Police

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission in which incidents  (a) police officers,  (b) armed police officers and  (c) security officers have been injured in the course of their work in (i) the Palace of Westminster and (ii) the parliamentary estate in each of the last five years for which figures are available; at which location each injury occurred; whether any person was subsequently (A) arrested and (B) convicted of causing injury; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: There are two relevant incidents recorded within the last five years:
	25 February 2008: Security officer apprehended a youth apparently stealing a bicycle (on Millbank). During the course of this incident the security officer sustained a grazed knee. There was insufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution of the suspect.
	8 October 2006: A police officer was spat on (at Carriage Gates Entrance). The suspect was cautioned at Charing Cross police station for assault of a police officer.

Information and Communications Technology

Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps are being taken to increase the number of sockets providing access to the Parliamentary network for network users in  (a) 1 Parliament Street and  (b) other parts of the parliamentary estate to allow all computers in hon. Members' offices to access the network at the same time.

Nick Harvey: There are no proposals to increase the number of sockets available in Members' offices across the estate; nor, so far as I am aware, is there any demand for such an increase. Any individual cases would be looked at on their merits, including the costs involved and the capacity of the system in the area.

Theft

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many cases of theft from inside  (a) the Palace of Westminster and  (b) each other building on the Parliamentary estate were reported in each of the last five years; what items were reported stolen; what the estimated value of each was; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The recorded statistics for thefts from the parliamentary estate are:
	
		
			  Thefts reported on the parliamentary estate 2004-08 
			  Date  Victim  Venue  Allegation  Value (£) 
			  2008 
			 12 February Staff Millbank Theft of Cash 40 
			 15 April MP Portcullis House Theft of camera 200 
			 18 April Staff Canon Row Theft of candlestick 1,000 
			 7 May Staff House of Lords Theft of cash 32 
			 15 May MP Commons Court Theft from motor vehicle 1,500 
			 25 June C.P.A. C.P.A. Theft of computer 649.00 
			 17 July Member of public Strangers Gallery Theft of cash 50.00 
			 23 September Staff 7 Millbank Theft of cash 85.00 
			 27 September House of Commons Portcullis House Theft of chairs 5,000.00 
			 16 October HOL Refreshment Dept HOL Theft of money 661.00 
			 7 November Staff Sports & Social Club Theft of coat 130.00 
			 10 November Staff Lower Secretaries Theft of computer 700.00 
			 21 November Staff State Officers Court Theft of pedal cycle 400.00 
			  
			  2007 
			 2 January Staff Norman Shaw North Theft of cash 35 
			 19 January PICT 7 Millbank Theft of laptop 700 
			 23 January Member Portcullis House Theft of rugs 800 
			 19 July Staff HOL Library intake Theft of cash 35 
			 25 May PWD Bandstand Area Theft of cable drums x 2 2,700 
			 15 November Member Portcullis House Theft of cash 20 
			  
			  2006 
			 24 January Staff Palm Court Theft and use of SIM card 739.75 
			 11 February Staff Star Chamber Court Theft of lights 20 
			 20 February Staff Vote Office Theft employee 30 
			 20 February Staff Vote Office Obtaining services by deception 30 
			 20 March Staff Bellamy's Male Locker Room Theft of shoes x 2 pairs 60 
			 20 April Staff Upper Committee Corridor Theft of CD re-writer 60 
			 25 May Staff Flower Shop Theft of flowers £30 
			 25 May PICT 4 Millbank Theft of laptop 1,200 
			 28 June Staff Portcullis House Theft of mobile phone (1)— 
			 15 October Staff Post Office Theft of cash 1,705 
			 9 October Member St Stephens Tower Theft of dictaphone 300 
			 29 November Member Portcullis House Theft of cash 218 
			 4 December Member St Stephens Tower Theft of laptop 300 
			  
			  2005 
			 26 January Visitor Dining Room corridor, HOC Theft of bag 138 
			 2 February PWD Portcullis House Theft of shower fixtures and fittings 360 
			 10 February PWD Norman Shaw North Theft of armoured cable 50 
			 23 February Member 1 Parliament Street Theft of 4 briefcases 80 
			 14 March Staff 7 Millbank Theft of cash and pass 15 
			 15 March PCD 7 Millbank Theft of mobile phone 100 
			 29 March Staff Terrace Pavilion Theft of cash 350 
			 27 June Staff Press Gallery Theft of mobile phone 213 
			 14 June PCD 7 Millbank Theft of computers x 17 (1)— 
			 19 June Staff Norman Shaw North Theft of mobile phone 10 
			 19 June Member House of Commons Theft of sunglasses 200 
			 29 July Staff Star Chamber Court Theft of bicycle 250 
			 20 August Staff 7 Millbank Theft of cash 1,530 
			 24 August Staff Portcullis House Theft of cash 20 
			 23 August Staff Lower Secretarial Theft of scarf 100 
			 14 September Staff Portacabin Black Rod Gardens Theft of wallet 45 
			 12 October Member Portcullis House Theft of laptop 500 
			 25 October PWD 7 Millbank Theft of scanner 420 
			 11 November Member Upper Committee Corridor Theft of mobile phone (1)— 
			 28 November Member Portcullis House Theft of laptop 500 
			 9 December Member Portcullis House Theft of cash 20 
			  
			  2004 
			 13 January Staff Canon Row Theft of diary 0.80 
			 19 January Staff Bandstand Courtyard Theft of cash 465 
			 3 February Member Opposition Block Theft of mobile phone 100 
			 6 February Staff Old Engineers Control Theft of mobile phone 250 
			 18 March Member o/s 4 Millbank Theft of pedal cycle 200 
			 7 April Staff Cloister HOC Theft of books and case 120 
			 30 March Staff Not known Theft of purse (1)— 
			 16 March Member Not known Theft of post (1)— 
			 1 April Member Members Tea Room Theft of documents and camera lens 200 
			 17 May PWD Committee Room 18 Theft of multi-media projector 1,000 
			 18 June Staff Parliament Street Theft of cash and debit card 100 
			 29 June Staff Lady's Members Rest Room Theft of purse 310 
			 26 July Staff Committee Corridor Theft of wristwatch 400 
			 22 September Staff Press Gallery Lift Theft of tools and drill 300 
			 18 March Staff Portcullis House Theft of laptop battery 50 
			 1 September Staff Portcullis House Theft of floppy disc 40 
			 1 October Staff 7 Millbank Theft of cash 670.20 
			 26 October SAA Serjeant at Arms Theft of IPAQ 300 
			 18 November PWD Whips Court Theft of flat screen 560 
			 21 December Member Opposition Block Theft of laptop computer 1,404 
			 (1) No amount shown.

TREASURY

1 Carlton Gardens

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Crown Estate plans to renew the lease for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's use of No. 1 Carlton Gardens.

Angela Eagle: This matter has not yet been decided.

Air Passenger Duty

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average annual proportion of UK tax paid by non-domiciled UK residents which is accounted for by payment of UK air passenger duty.

Angela Eagle: The information to make an estimate is not available.

Banks: Fraud

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are in place to compensate people for financial loss incurred as a result of fraud in relation to retail banks.

Ian Pearson: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme will compensate persons who are eligible to claim under its rules in the event that a UK authorised bank is unable, or likely to be unable, to pay claims against it, including where the bank is unable to pay claims as a result of fraud.

British Brands Group

David Taylor: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have met the (i) British Brands Group and (ii) Anti-Counterfeiting Group in each of the last five years; and which subjects were discussed on each occasion.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors. This forms part of the Department's processes for policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Business: Government Assistance

Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources have been provided to Capital for Enterprise Ltd for the additional workload required for implementation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Ian Pearson: The Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme has been implemented within the existing 2008-09 budgeted resource provision for Capital for Enterprise Limited (CfEL). The Department is currently reviewing the resource requirement going forward through discussion with CfEL.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Angela Eagle: The following items of HM Treasury property were reported lost or stolen during 2008:
	
		
			   Property lost or stolen 
			 Lost 2 mobile phones 3 blackberry mobile devices 2 mobile phone chargers 
			 Stolen 1 desk key 1 set of work keys 2 corporate credit cards 
		
	
	The total cost of replacement is estimated at £1,000.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 103W, on departmental surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of his Department's most recent annual staff survey.

Angela Eagle: The most recent annual staff survey was conducted in December 2008. As in previous years the survey suppliers are providing a summary of the results to be put on the HM Treasury public website. This will be made available by the end of March 2009.
	I will place a copy of this summary in the Library once it is available.

Financial Services Authority: ICT

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of suppliers of systems integration services to the Financial Services Authority completed projects on time and on budget in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: This is an operational matter for the FSA. The FSA will respond to the hon. Member directly.

Government Departments: Procurement

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of levels of procurement of office supplies from UK-based businesses by Government Departments.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not held centrally.

Non-profit Making Associations

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Oxford, East of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 530W, on non-profit making associations, if he will discuss with the Office of Government Commerce the scope for accelerating its work.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 105W, on Public Sector: Procurement. An update on the progress in implementing the Glover recommendations will be provided at Budget 2009.

VAT

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the Exchequer of cutting VAT to 15 per cent. which is accounted for by expenditure by households in each income decile.

Stephen Timms: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 262-63W.
	In addition, table 14 in "The Effects of Taxes and Benefits on Household Incomes, 2006-07", http://www.statistics.gov.uk/elmr/07_08/downloads/ELMR_Jul08_Jones.pdf, presents information on spending on VAT, on average, accounted for by households in each income decile.
	The Treasury has made no such assessment, but from these proportions it is possible to infer the estimated annual cost of the VAT rate reduction by income decile (although such estimates would be unreliable).

VAT

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the Exchequer of reducing the rate of value added tax to 15 per cent. accounted for by households where the head of the household is aged  (a) 25 or under,  (b) 26 to 30,  (c) 31 to 35,  (d) 36 to 40,  (e) 41 to 45,  (f) 46 to 50,  (g) 51 to 55,  (h) 56 to 60,  (i) 61 to 65,  (j) 66 to 70,  (k) 71 to 75,  (l) 76 to 80 and  (m) over 80.

Stephen Timms: No such estimate has been made.

VAT: Accountancy

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the annual  (a) revenue cost and  (b) cash flow impact on the Exchequer of making value added tax (VAT) cash accounting available to all VAT-registered traders.

Stephen Timms: It is estimated that making cash accounting available to all VAT-registered traders would have an accruals and cash cost to the Exchequer of £1.6 billion in the first year and negligible cost thereafter. The cash accounting threshold was doubled in 2007 and is already as high as is permitted under the UK's derogation from EU law.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services: Young People

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to introduce a pilot scheme for concessionary bus travel for young adults between the ages of 17 and 25 years.

Paul Clark: holding answer 13 March 2009
	There are no plans to make concessionary travel a statutory entitlement for young people. At present 48 per cent. of young people walk or cycle to school and there is a risk that a blanket England-wide concession could encourage young people who currently walk or cycle instead to take the bus.
	Local authorities can use their existing powers to offer local concessionary travel to young people and many do offer some kind of concession. We believe local authorities are best placed to make this decision, based on their own assessment of needs and circumstances.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have registered for the DART-Tag scheme for the Dartford Crossing.

Paul Clark: There were 91,684 accounts with 250,979 DART-Tags on 4 March 2009.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with which banks his Department has or has had contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport has had contracts in place with UBS Ltd., Merrill Lynch International and Citigroup Global Markets Ltd. for the provision of financial advice in the financial year 2008-09.

Departmental Manpower

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which new policy areas for which his Department has acquired responsibility have resulted in headcount additions in his Department agreed with the Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce in the last two years.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport has not acquired any new policy areas which have resulted in headcount additions agreed with the Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce in the last two years.

Departmental Travel

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's criteria for approving overseas business travel for senior civil servants.

Geoff Hoon: All official travel in the Department for Transport is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code. The Department does not publish any separate criteria for senior civil servants.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many visits  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers and  (c) departmental officials made abroad in 2008.

Geoff Hoon: Ministers of the Department for Transport made 13 visits overseas in 2008. Of these, five were by the Secretary of State and eight by other Ministers.
	The Department does not record the travel undertaken by officials by numbers of visits and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Driving Offences: Fines

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been paid into the Consolidated Fund from each type of fine on motorists in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Fixed penalties and certain other enforcement income in respect of non-payment of vehicle excise duty is paid to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The amounts remitted by DVLA to the Consolidated Fund in recent years are given as follows.
	The Department for Transport does not collect information on fines imposed by magistrates or Crown courts or by the police.
	
		
			  Enforcement of vehicle excise duty: Fines and related income remitted by DVLA to HM Treasury Consolidated Fund 
			   £ million 
			 2002-03 24.3 
			 2003-04 29.3 
			 2004-05 32.1 
			 2005-06 39.7 
			 2006-07 40.0 
			 2007-08 47.0

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1726W, on Heathrow Airport: air pollution, on what date Ministers concluded that air quality limits had been met in relation to the  (a) third runway and  (b) mixed mode scenarios consulted on in the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport public consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 16 March 2009
	Further to my answer on 5 March, Ministers received advice in September 2007 confirming the position and subsequently agreed this for the purposes of consultation. Final decisions in the light of consultation responses were taken shortly before the announcement on 15 January 2009.

High Speed Trains

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes to transport infrastructure will be required to accommodate the new high speed railway tracks by 2013.  [Official Report, 25 March 2009, Vol. 490, c. 3MC.]

Paul Clark: "Britain's Transport Infrastructure: High Speed Two", published on 15 January and available on the Department for Transport's website and the Libraries of the House, sets out what we expect High Speed Two to deliver.
	The remit of the company is to consider and to provide advice to the Government on the costs and benefits of:
	(a) A proposed route between London and the west midlands with any options as appropriate;
	(b) Options for a "Heathrow International" interchange station on the Great Western main line with an interchange also with Crossrail;
	(c) Options for access to central London and the other cities served;
	(d) Options for linking with HS1 and the existing rail network, including the potential for services to continental Europe;
	(e) Financing and construction proposals.
	In response to a letter dated 13 February from Sir David Rowlands, Chairman of High Speed Two, my noble Friend the Minister responsible for rail wrote to the company on 10 March setting out in more detail what the Government expect by the end of the year. Both letters have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Lichfield Trent Valley Station

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Lichfield Trent Valley railway station will be  (a) refurbished and  (b) provided with disabled access to the platforms serving the southbound West Coast Main Line and the eastbound Birmingham line; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: There are currently no plans to carry out work at Lichfield Trent Valley under the Access for All or National Stations Improvement Programmes. However, London Midland are exploring options with the local authority to redevelop the whole site to improve station facilities, provide additional car parking and if possible, provide step-free access to all platforms.
	If such a project can be developed, we would welcome an application for partial funding from the Access for All Small Schemes fund. An accessible ticket machine has recently been installed and improvements to the toilet and waiting facilities are due in the summer. Information points, customer information screens and a public address system are also planned.

M1: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what speed cameras the speed camera signs on gantries over the M1 motorway between junctions 8 and 9 relate; where such cameras are situated; how many speed cameras  (a) are in place and  (b) are to be put in place on the M1 motorway for the purpose of detecting the speed of vehicles; and where each is situated.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 16 March 2009
	The signs that can currently be found between junctions 8 and 9 on the M1 are there to advise road users that speed enforcement is taking place over this stretch of the motorway.
	Currently there are no fixed cameras in place between junctions 8 and 9, as they have not yet been installed, but fixed cameras will be installed over the coming months. Police also operate in this area and will continue to enforce the national speed limit on this and other stretches of the M1.
	There are currently 11 gantries in each direction between junctions 8 and 9 of the M1. One gantry in each direction includes the equipment to enforce the speed limit. There will be cameras over every lane in each direction.
	Plans for the location of cameras on other sections of the M1 which are planned to be improved will be agreed nearer the time that the improvements are due to open.

M25

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the cost of widening  (a) junctions 16 to 23 and  (b) junctions 27 to 30 of the M25; and how much of this sum he expects to come from the public purse.

Paul Clark: Both of these widening schemes form part of the M25 design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) contract that is currently in the final stages of negotiation. The latest estimates of the cost of these widening schemes are based on the tendered prices submitted by the preferred bidder, Connect Plus. However, these are commercially sensitive until the contract is awarded.
	The last estimate, prior to receipt of tenders for the DBFO contract, was made in July 2007. At that time the cost of widening junctions 16 to 23 was estimated at £697 million and junctions 27 to 30 at £583 million.
	As these works are being procured through a private finance initiative (PFI) contract it is planned that they will funded by borrowings from the private sector which are recovered from the Highways Agency out of availability payments over the life of the contract. These payments are subject to contractor performance. In light of current financial circumstances the Government may elect to lend to the project if insufficient private sector funds are available. However, this is not yet determined.

M62: East Riding

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the M62 motorway between Hull and the junction with the M18 to be clear of roadworks and lane closures in both directions; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Current roadworks on the M62 between Hull and the M18 are the Balkholme to Gilberdyke major resurfacing scheme and the replacement of Addle Lane Bridge between junctions 37 and 38.
	This work is planned for completion in June 2009 when traffic management and any lane closures on the M62 will be fully removed.

Railway Stations: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of  (a) railway stations and  (b) transport interchanges have local taxi facilities which are accessible to disabled people.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested as this is matter for local authorities.

Railways: Franchises

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2132W, on railways: franchises, what research his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) evaluated on assumptions about (i) economic growth and (ii) passenger volumes in the franchise agreements for these lines in the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport monitors revenues on all franchises, and forms an internal view about likely future trends as part of its routine monitoring of franchisees. The Department is also carrying out research looking at a large sample of passenger flows across England, Wales and Scotland in order to improve our understanding of how economic and other factors have influenced the growth in rail patronage in recent years. This is due to complete at the end of 2009, and will be used to inform the Department's forecasting work.

Railways: Freight

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent in each region on rail freight grants in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 9 March 2009
	There are two types of rail freight grants:
	revenue support for the operation of rail services; and
	capital funding for the construction of freight facilities.
	In both cases grants are justified by the environmental benefits of removing lorry traffic from the roads.
	Figures in this answer relate to grants awarded by: the Department for Transport; the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR); the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR); and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA).
	Revenue support grants fund services that could pass through a number of regions and therefore a region by region breakdown is not possible. The following table gives the budget for revenue grants for each of the past 10 years:
	
		
			   Budget (£ million) 
			 1999-2000 16.7 
			 2000-01 20.0 
			 2001-02 27.0 
			 2002-03 30.0 
			 2003-04 19.6 
			 2004-05 24.5 
			 2005-06 23.9 
			 2006-07 24.5 
			 2007-08 18.5 
			 2008-09 23.3 
		
	
	The allocation shown for 2007-08 and 2008-09 is provided through the Sustainable Distribution Fund. Of this £17 million was provided for rail resource grants in 2007-08 and our current forecasts show £19.4 million likely to be provided in 2008-09.
	Capital grants awarded for facilities in regions of England over the past 10 years are shown in the following table. Grants provided for moveable assets are not included as a region cannot be assigned. The benefits of reduced lorry traffic as a result of a grant awarded will generally not be limited to the region in which the facility is located.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Regions  1999-00  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 East midlands 0 0 1,415,336 0 28,286 0 0 0 
			 Eastern 0 474,046 11,739,061 5,847,844 0 0 0 0 
			 London 1,194,436 2,609,484 6,020,360 0 915,972 1,249,280 1,150,938 1,325,578 
			 North-east 1,695,280 1,068,560 1,582,443 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North-west 6,344,080 7,733,437 2,270,490 1,631,345 0 0 0 0 
			 South-east 0 125,540 2,388,000 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South-west 0 16,163,380 1,470,979 1,061,313 0 0 0 0 
			 West midlands 1,881,600 1,956,690 9,161,079 1,908,256 0 0 65,913 0 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 0 823,220 1,258,259 6,267,270 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	The SRA suspended the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) programme for most rail projects in 2003, although grants continued to be available for aggregate-based facilities through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. FFGs were reintroduced for all rail schemes by the Department in April 2007.

Railways: Statistics

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rail datasets held by his Department supply data broken down by  (a) constituency,  (b) local authority,  (c) county and  (d) region.

Paul Clark: The rail datasets held by the Department for Transport that can supply data by constituency, local authority, county and region are the National Rail Travel Survey (NRTS) and the national rail element of the 2001 London Area Transport Survey (LATS).

Road Traffic

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on shared space initiatives in the last five years.

Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today (UIN 262452).

Road Traffic: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average daily flow of  (a) heavy goods vehicles and  (b) other vehicles was on each section of the (i) A11 and (ii) A14 in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: A table providing annual average daily flows (AADFs) of  (a) heavy goods vehicles and  (b) other vehicles on each section of the (i) A11 and (ii) A14 in Suffolk has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.
	These figures give estimates of the number of vehicles travelling along individual sections of road on an average day of the year. Two sections of the A14 in Cambridgeshire have been included for continuity.
	The figures provided in the table are for the period 2003-07. More recent data for 2008 will be released in June 2009. AADF data for individual motorway and 'A' road links for 1999 to 2007 are available on our website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/matrix

Roads

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on traffic initiatives designed to integrate road users via shared space initiatives.

Paul Clark: In the late 1990s, the Department for Transport commissioned research into home zones and quiet lanes, which are forms of shared space in residential streets and rural roads respectively. The research involved evaluating pilot schemes to assist in developing subsequent legislation and guidance.
	We have also evaluated shared space research, commissioned by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and home zones research, commissioned by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. Both projects identified the difficulties faced by some disabled people in these environments.
	To better understand these difficulties the Department recently commissioned a major shared space research project. The two-year project started in February 2009.

Roads: Accidents

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many road traffic accidents there were in each police force area in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many  (a) fatalities and  (b) injuries there were in road traffic accidents in each police force area in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Tables showing the number of (a) accidents (b) fatalities and (c) injuries resulting from reported personal injury road accidents in each police force area in Great Britain from 1997 to 2007 have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Accidents

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) accidents and  (b) deaths on rural roads involving uninsured drivers there were in each (i) local authority area and (ii) constituency in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 598-99W.

Roads: Accidents

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths on rural roads in each  (a) local authority area and  (b) constituency there were in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Tables showing the numbers of deaths on rural roads in each local authority area and constituency resulting from reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain from 1997 to 2007 have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Roads: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to support provision of an additional access road for Canvey Island for economic reasons.

Paul Clark: Any proposed access road to Canvey Island is the responsibility for Essex county council, as local highway authority.
	Should the council, in liaison with Castle Point borough council, decide to promote such a scheme, it would need to obtain the East of England region's agreement to prioritise the scheme for funding within its regional funding allocation for major transport schemes.
	The council would then need to submit a detailed major scheme business case for the scheme, in line with Department for Transport guidance, for consideration and assessment by the Department.
	Alternatively, the council could seek funding from its own or through third party sources.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to assess the appropriateness of arrangements for stockpiling and distribution of salt and grit for use on roads in cold weather.

Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Transport's written ministerial statement of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 29-32WS, which advised that the UK Roads Liaison Group had been asked to review the lessons learnt in respect of the supply and stock holding of salt for use on roads during the recent period of adverse weather.

Roads: Statistics

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what road  (a) safety,  (b) user and  (c) congestion datasets held by his Department supply data, broken down by (i) constituency, (ii) local authority, (iii) county and (iv) region.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Dataset available at  (i) Constituency  (ii) Local authority  (iii) County  (iv) Government office region  (v) Data scope 
			 Road accidents (Stats 19)(1) Yes Yes(2) Yes Yes GB 
			 Congestion—Inter-urban No No No Yes(3) England 
			 Congestion—Urban No Partial(4) No No England 
			 Traffic No Yes Yes Yes GB 
			 Road lengths No Yes Yes Yes GB 
			 National Travel Survey No No(5) No(5) Yes GB 
			 Road freight(6) No Yes Yes Yes UK 
			 Registered vehicles Yes Yes Yes Yes GB 
			 Bus and light rail passengers No No No Yes GB 
			 Concessionary fares schemes No Yes Yes Yes England and Wales 
			 Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey No No No Yes England 
			 Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles No Yes Yes Yes England and Wales 
			 Blue Badges Survey No Yes Yes Yes England 
			 Decriminalised Parking Survey No Yes Yes Yes England and Wales 
			 Vehicle Excise Duty Evasion No No No Yes UK 
			 (1) With the exception of contributory factor data and drink and drive data, which are only available at Government office region level. (2) Local highway authority. (3) Data are available by road section and some road sections may cover more than one Government office region. (4) Currently, urban congestion data are published for the 10 largest urban areas in England, which are combinations of local authority areas. (5) Some limited results can be supplied at this level for some local authorities and counties, where sample sizes are sufficient to produce robust estimates. (6) Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight

Speed Limits: Cameras

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent guidance issued by his Department to local authorities on the use of safety cameras.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport issued DFT Circular 01/2007, guidance on the deployment of speed and red light cameras on 31 January 2007. The guidance was placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the Department's website.

Taxis

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on other aspects of the transport system of the provision of accessible taxis.

Paul Clark: The Impact Assessment in the recently published consultation 'Improving Access to Taxis' assesses costs and issues in relation to accessible taxis, as well as the taxi trade, customers and local authorities. The impacts on the wider transport system have not been assessed.

Taxis

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on  (a) guidance on and  (b) regulations for local authority licensing of accessible taxis.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is currently consulting on this issue. The consultation document 'Improving Access to Taxis' was published on 2 February 2009 and explores the ways of improving access to taxis by disabled people.

Train Operating Companies

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to increase the accountability to the public of the performance of train operating companies.

Paul Clark: Train operators are accountable for their performance to the Department for Transport through their franchise agreement, and to the public via published results.
	The rail industry regularly publishes train performance information, and a requirement exists for train operators to publish their performance against target at most stations.
	Passenger Focus, the independent passenger watchdog, also issues bi-annual National Passenger Survey results which reflect passengers' perceptions of performance and service quality.

Transport: Crimes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many offences  (a) in total and  (b) of violence against the person,  (c) sexual offences,  (d) robbery,  (e) burglary,  (f) against vehicles,  (g) other forms of theft,  (h) fraud and forgery, (ii) criminal damage and (j) related to drugs have been recorded by the British Transport Police in each year since 1998-99.

Paul Clark: This information is not held by the Department for Transport, but by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at:
	British Transport Police
	25 Camden Road
	London
	NW1 9LN
	E-mail:
	parliament@btp.pnn.police.uk

Tugboats: Fees and Charges

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to charge a fee towards tug protection on laid-up shipping at anchor within UK territorial waters.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no plans to charge fees for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) tug protection services.
	The MCA is not aware of any vessels that have been "laid up" at anchor. Anchored vessels must be maintained in a fully operational state.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

British Energy: EDF Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what requirements have been placed on EDF regarding the disposal of potential nuclear sites as a result of the sale of British Energy.

Mike O'Brien: The obligations for EDF to sell certain potential nuclear new build sites are as set out in the Sites Undertaking entered into between EDF and HM Government, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House on 24 September 2008. The European Commission as part of its clearance of the acquisition of British Energy has received certain undertakings from EDF that are slightly different from those agreed in the Sites Undertaking and these are as set out in the announcement of its decision on 22 December 2008. It is envisaged that when the Commission has published its full decision the Sites Undertaking will be amended to reflect these developments.

Carbon Emissions

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding he has allocated for the purposes of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation and degradation.

Joan Ruddock: In advance of internationally agreed mechanisms, it is necessary to test approaches and build capacity in developing countries. At the climate change negotiations in Poznan last December the UK announced up to £100 million from the International Window of the Environmental Transformation Fund to support such work.
	This is in addition to a £15 million contribution to the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility which assists developing countries in working out how they can participate in and benefit from evolving incentive mechanisms for avoided deforestation. The UK has also committed £60 million to help reduce deforestation and poverty in the Congo Basin. The Congo Basin Forest Fund, launched in June 2008, will support transformative and innovative proposals from the countries of the Congo Basin and civil society to slow the rate of deforestation.
	In addition, smaller sums of money have been committed from the budgets of DECC, DEFRA, DFID and the FCO.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Mike O'Brien: I have today placed in the Library a copy of the display energy certificate and advisory report for the Department's London headquarters in 3 Whitehall Place. The DECC offices in Atholl House are not covered by the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspection) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 since they are in Scotland, and therefore do not have a display energy certificate or advisory report. DECC has no executive agencies.

Departmental Databases

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what databases are  (a) held and  (b) maintained by his Department.

Mike O'Brien: It is not possible to answer this question without incurring disproportionate costs. DECC owns and maintains a wide range of databases reflecting its diverse policy and regulatory functions. Some of these databases contain large numbers of individual datasets. A detailed list could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Department.

Departmental Information Officers

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many press officers are employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Six.
	(b) None.

Departmental Public Consultation

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what public consultations his Department  (a) is planning to undertake and  (b) is undertaking; and when each such consultation is expected to end.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 11 March 2009
	DECC is currently undertaking the following consultations:
	
		
			  Consultation  Start date  Closes  Intended date of response 
			 The Environmental Permitting Regulations, Phase 2 (EPP2) 16 February 2009 18 May 2009 15 September 2009 
			 Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) 12 February 2009 8 May 2009 Summer 2009 
			 Heat and Energy Saving Strategy Consultation 12 February 2009 8 May 2009 End of 2009. 
			 Proposed amendments to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target 2008-11 12 February 2009 14 April 2009 Summer 2009 
			 The Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study 26 January 2009 23 April 2009 To be announced in due course 
			 Offshore Energy SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Environmental Report 26 January 2009 22 April 2009 To be announced in due course 
			 Proposed Offshore Gas Storage and Gas Unloading Licensing Scheme 12 February 2009 23 April 2009 To be announced in due course 
			 The Justification of Practices involving Ionising Radiation Regulations 2004: Consultation on the Nuclear Industry Association's Application to Justify New Nuclear Power Stations 17 December 2008 25 March 2009 A draft decision document, containing responses to this current consultation, is provisionally intended to be published in September 2009. This itself is subject to consultation and the final Justification decision is not expected to be made until January 
			 Consultation on offshore electricity transmission: a further joint Ofgem/DECC regulatory policy update November 20 2008 9 January 2009 Spring 2009 
			 Carbon units, the net UK carbon account and carbon accounting (under the Climate Change Act) 28 October 2008 19 January 2009 Alongside laying of carbon accounting Statutory Instrument at fiscal Budget 2009 
		
	
	DECC is planning to undertake the following consultations:
	A pre-consultation on nuclear waste and decommissioning fixed unit price. This is likely to start in the next few weeks. There will be a formal consultation on this point later in the spring.
	A final consultation on the offshore transmission licensing regime. This is likely to start by end of this month
	Consultation on a strategy for Low Level Radioactive Waste from the non-nuclear industry (e.g. hospitals, educational establishments etc). This is likely to start in late April or in May and end 12 weeks later.
	Consultation on Revised Exemption Orders under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. This likely to start in June and end in September.
	Consultations for the Renewables Obligation, Renewable Heat Incentive and Feed-in Tariffs are planned for this summer.
	Consultation on energy National Policy Statements to be produced under the Planning Act 2008. Expected to end in second half of 2009.
	Consultation on desirability of allowing local authorities to sell electricity generated otherwise than in association with heat and possible consequent legislative changes. Likely end date autumn 2009.
	Consultation on changes to the electricity licence exemption order. Likely end date autumn 2009.
	A further public consultation on Severn tidal power. Likely to be in 2010.
	Consultation on a new framework for coal fired power stations, timing unknown.
	Consultation on the term 'carbon neutral': its definition and recommendations for good practice. 26 February to 21 May 2009.
	Consultation on first stage Transposition of EU Directive (EC/2008/101) to include Aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). A joint consultation with the Department for Transport. End date 14 May 2009.
	Second stage Transposition of EU Directive (EC/2008/101) to include Aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). A joint consultation with the Department for Transport. Likely to end in autumn 2009.
	Transposition of revisions to the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for post-2012. Likely to end in summer 2009.
	Consultation on the Form and Content of New Climate Change Agreements. 12 March-4 June 2009.
	Consultation on the Draft Order to implement the Carbon Reduction Commitment. 12 March - 4 June 2009.
	 Note:
	Dates have not been finalised for some of these consultations, therefore end dates have not yet been set in these cases.

Energy Saving Trust: Public Relations

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what payments the Energy Saving Trust has made to  (a) Positif Politics Ltd.,  (b) Strategem,  (c) Weber Shandwick Public Affairs and  (d) Consolidated Communications in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Mike O'Brien: The Energy Saving Trust is a private company limited by guarantee, and details of payments made are therefore a matter for the trust's board.
	The Department has been informed that the Energy Saving Trust has made payments to each of the companies listed within the last five years for public relations activities such as energy efficiency campaigns and public affairs.

Energy: Supply

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking with his EU counterparts to ensure energy interconnection between countries.

Mike O'Brien: The EU's third energy package, which is expected to be adopted mid-year, should improve the regulatory, legal and technical framework needed to promote interconnection. It includes a duty on national regulators to support the development of cross-border transmission capacity to enhance the integration of national markets and an obligation on the European Transmission System Operators to develop an EU-wide network development plan identifying the need for further interconnection. The UK is also actively engaged with the European Commission and other member states on action arising from the second EU Strategic Energy Review (SEER2) and its related Green Paper on energy networks of November 2008. SEER2 highlights the need for improved interconnection both within the EU, especially for member states on the EU's periphery, and into the EU from third countries. The UK will provide a formal response to the Commission on the Paper before the end of March 2009.

Environment Protection: Technology

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of economic recovery stimulus packages are being utilised for environmentally-friendly technologies in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	At the pre-Budget report (PBR), the Government announced £3 billion of capital spending stimulus, including a £535 million green stimulus to support low carbon growth and jobs, while still meeting ambitious long-term goals. This green stimulus supports programmes such as Warm Front and Decent Homes that include the installation of thermal insulation and efficient heating technologies, to save energy and cut CO2 emissions.
	PBR's green stimulus included £100 million of new funding for Warm Front, on top of £50 million brought forward to support the economy. This will reduce CO2 emissions and help around 60,000 low-income households cut their energy use through insulation and improved heating systems. For 2008-09, £50 million of the new stimulus funding was added to existing Warm Front funding for the year of £345 million. From 1 April 2008 to 25 January 2009, over £346 million had been spent on Warm Front, with 6 per cent. of households assisted located in the North East region.
	In PBR the Government also announced additional brought forward expenditure to sustain and accelerate the Decent Homes programme in 2009-10. Significant elements of this will support expenditure above existing national budgets provided to schemes previously identified by partners in the ALMO and transfer programmes. Additional brought forward capital, up to a maximum total value of £100 million, will be available to ALMOs in 2009-10 and the HCA has written to ALMO chief executives on the process for accessing this. A proportion of this spending will go towards energy efficiency and heating technologies, although we are unable to identify funding for this separately.

International Renewable Energy Agency

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1001W, on the International Renewable Energy Agency, for what reason the Government have not joined the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Mike O'Brien: We have fully supported the proposal for an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). During 2008, we participated in the process for establishing the IRENA and we have also participated at the Founding Conference on 26 January and the first session of the Preparatory Commission of IRENA on 27 January 2009.
	We have been very keen on joining and have been in close contact with the German Government on the details of the new organisation. For example, we have been talking to Germany about how IRENA can contribute to the roll-out and deployment of renewables and how we can help to get other countries such as Canada, China, Japan, India and the US to join. We are also talking about how we can make sure that IRENA works closely with, and avoids overlap and duplication with, other international bodies and organisations, such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the renewable energy and energy efficiency partnership (REEEP). The IEA has a good understanding of the potential for renewable energy and its technology roadmaps published in its Energy Technologies Perspectives 2008 set out what needs to be done. The policy and analytical expertise of the IEA needs to be used by IRENA to accelerate deployment of renewable sources of energy.
	These are the main issues that we have under consideration, but we have not finalised a timetable by which we intend to join.

Lord Truscott

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have met Lord Truscott since the creation of his Department.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 February 2009
	Ministers in this Department have not met with Lord Truscott.

Warm Front Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many boilers installed under the Warm Front scheme in  (a) Birkenhead constituency and  (b) nationally have required repair on (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four or more occasions.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 25 February 2009
	The Warm Front scheme offers a comprehensive aftercare provision with cover for parts and labour under all installed gas central heating systems for two years. September 2007 is the earliest date for which this information is available. In the time period 1 September 2007 to January 31 2009, the following data show system repairs (including although not exclusively pertaining to boiler repairs) in Birkenhead and England respectively:
	
		
			  (a) Birkenhead—1,948 properties were covered by the aftercare provision in the period, of which 656 properties required one or more visits 
			   Number 
			 1 visit 456 
			 2 visits 145 
			 3 visits 38 
			 >4 visits 17 
			 Total 656 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) England—352,000 properties were covered by the aftercare provision of which 90,145 properties required one or more visits 
			   Number 
			 1 visit 63,384 
			 2 visits 18,643 
			 3 visits 2,564 
			 >4 visits 2,554 
			 Total 90,145

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office policy in relation to cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products is to avoid animal testing at all costs unless it is mandated by legal requirement. Products tested on animals would be used only within the definition of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACh) set up to protect human health and the environment.

Group Of Twenty: London Summit

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) hiring conference facilities and  (b) the media centre for the G20 Summit to be held in London on 2 April 2009.

Gillian Merron: The financial crisis of autumn 2008, affecting banking systems, is now a global economic crisis, impacting upon jobs and livelihoods. No one country can resolve this crisis alone. International co-operation and the London G20 Summit is essential as it will bring together leaders of the world's major economies and key international institutions.
	With the global economic situation continuing to deteriorate our goal for the London G20 Summit is for leaders to: take whatever action is necessary to stabilise financial markets and enable families and business to get through the recession; reform and strengthen the global financial and economic system to restore confidence and trust; and put the global economy on track for sustainable growth.
	The London G20 Summit at the Excel Centre in east London, which will hold both the conference and a media centre, is therefore vitally important on the global stage. The current estimate of £1.1 million for the space required should be considered in this context.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid to farmers in each region of England in  (a) single farm payments,  (b) protein crop premium and  (c) energy aid in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007 and (iv) 2008.

Jane Kennedy: The data required to provide payment information for these schemes by region are not held in a form that is easily accessible and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Agriculture: Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on set-aside; and what timetable he has set to introduce changes to the existing arrangements.

Jane Kennedy: As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1216W, the UK supported abolishing set-aside in the CAP 'Health Check', but made it clear that adequate measures were needed to mitigate adverse environmental consequences. We were successful in achieving a new legal basis which allows member states to use cross-compliance for this purpose.
	On 4 March 2009 DEFRA launched a 12-week public consultation on proposed changes to cross-compliance, including recapturing the environmental benefits of set-aside. The consultation ends on 27 May and Ministers will be considering these responses before making a decision. It is anticipated that any measures, would be introduced from 2010 onwards.

Angling: Licensing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for rod licences from people in each age group were refused in each of the last five years; and for what reasons.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Anyone over the age of 12 who wishes to fish for freshwater fish and eels in England, Wales or the Border Esk region of Scotland requires a rod licence to fish with a rod and line. The Environment Agency do not refuse rod licences.

Beekeeping

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps  (a) to promote beekeeping and  (b) encourage existing beekeepers to remain in the sector; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The National Bee Unit (NBU) provides a free comprehensive training and education programme for all beekeepers to enable them to develop their skills and become more self-reliant in combating disease problems through improved bee husbandry. In 2008, beekeepers in England benefited from nearly 23,000 colony inspections and an extensive programme of training, including over 800 technical events to date, delivered by the NBU to help improve disease control through good apiary management. Implementation of 'Healthy Bees', a 10-year plan to protect and improve the health of honey bees in England and Wales, will help beekeepers develop their skills and thus continue beekeeping.

Beekeeping

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many active beekeepers were registered on the National Bee Unit database at the latest date for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 March 2009
	As of 10 March 2009, there were 17,423 active beekeepers registered on the National Bee Unit's Beebase database.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced additional funding of £4.3 million for bee health which includes supporting the implementation of the initial phase of a 10-year plan to improve and protect the health of honey bees in England and Wales. One aim is to gain a more accurate picture of the numbers and distribution of beekeepers and the status of the health of their colonies and increase significantly the proportion of beekeepers registered on Beebase.
	The additional funding allocation also includes £0.4 million per annum for five years which will be contributed to a wider research programme on pollinator decline.

Beekeeping

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of beekeepers.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 March 2009
	An economic evaluation of bee health carried out by ADAS Consulting Ltd. in 2001 estimated that there were approximately 33,000 beekeepers and 230,000 colonies of bees in England. The Secretary of State recently announced additional funding of £4.3 million for bee health which includes supporting the implementation of the initial phase of a 10-year plan to improve and protect the health of honey bees in England and Wales. One aim is to gain a more accurate picture of the numbers and distribution of beekeepers and the status of the health of their colonies.
	The additional funding allocation also includes £0.4 million per annum for five years which will be contributed to a wider research programme on pollinator decline.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to ensure early take-up by farmers of tests for bovine tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: Responsibility for ensuring that legally required bovine tuberculosis (TB) tests are completed on time rests with cattle owners. However, Animal Health gives every cattle owner advance notification of the two to three-month period in which their test must be completed. These notification letters also make it clear that herd movement restrictions will be applied immediately a test becomes overdue. This provides motivation for herd owners to get tests completed on time, and reduces the risk of disease spread from herds with an unknown TB status. Veterinary practices are also advised of the test due dates for their clients' herds.
	However, a significant number of TB tests are still not completed in the required timeframe. To help reduce this number, Animal Health is developing new, more robust enforcement protocols.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to expedite the collection of cattle infected with tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: Government recognise the importance attached to removing infected animals from farms as quickly as possible. Within England, Animal Health is meeting its current target of removing 90 per cent. of TB reactors within 20 working days. As at the end of December 2008 91.4 per cent. (18,102) of the reactors taken in England since 1 April 2008 had been removed within 20 days.
	From 1 April 2009 the Animal Health target will be tightened further to 10 working days. This is a challenging target, one which Animal Health will only be able to meet if it has full co-operation from farmers and vets.

Compost

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the entry into administration of Bioganix on  (a) present and  (b) planned in-vessel composting facilities.

Jane Kennedy: Information received from the DEFRA-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) indicates that the former Bioganix site at Sharpness Docks in Gloucestershire was recently purchased from the administrators for an undisclosed sum by New Earth Solutions, which has announced that the site will continue in operation under the new ownership.
	WRAP provides ongoing support to compost producers specifically through its Programme Support Managers and to all recycling and reprocessing business through its Regional Business Advisors and Business and Markets team (who have links to the investor community).

Departmental Absenteeism

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many members of staff from his Department missed at least  (a) 30,  (b) 50 and  (c) 99 days of work through illness in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 11 March 2009
	The number of DEFRA staff who have missed at least 30, 50 and 99 days of work through illness in the core Department is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of staff 
			  Total working days absent in year  2006  2007  2008 
			 30 to 49 80 81 50 
			 50 to 98 72 66 41 
			 99+ 49 25 29 
		
	
	Record-keeping practices vary across DEFRA's agencies and analysing the data by the categories requested would incur disproportionate cost. Data prior to 2006 are not available in the form requested.
	DEFRA has a policy for managing long-term sickness absence for its employees by facilitating timely employee access to occupational health and medical or well-being advice. Individuals are also encouraged to return to work through the use of occupational health expertise that enables them to undertake a structured programme of recuperative duties, helping them to return to full working hours as quickly as possible. All staff have a return to work interview with their manager.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions  (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and  (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Compliance arrangements comprise a system of self-assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review. The Department undertakes a variety of audit activity and takes action when it is clear that its IT security policies need to be updated. However, for security reasons, it would not be appropriate to provide details of the audit functions undertaken.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy.

Huw Irranca-Davies: It is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to place in the Library a copy of detailed information pertaining to the security of the Department's IT systems. Disclosing such information could assist criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on staff surveys in each of the last five years; and which companies were contracted to carry out the surveys.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department commissioned ORC International Ltd to run staff surveys in 2005, 2007 and 2008. The Department is currently participating with 10 other Departments in a pilot Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey which is also being run by ORC International Ltd.
	Approximately £89,000 was spent in 2007-08, and approximately £31,000 has been spent or identified for spend in 2008-09 to date. It is not possible to identify expenditure in previous years.
	The first full Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey, covering over half a million civil servants, is planned for autumn 2009, and it is expected that this will deliver an overall saving for the Exchequer compared with the costs of Departments carrying out surveys unilaterally.

Departmental Surveys

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on staff surveys in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008; and which companies were contracted to carry out surveys.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department commissioned ORC International Ltd. to run staff surveys in 2007 and 2008. The Department is currently participating with 10 other Departments in a pilot Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey which is also being run by ORC International Ltd.
	Approximately £89,000 was spent in 2007-08, and approximately £31,000 has been spent or identified for spend in 2008-09 to date.
	The first full Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey, covering over half a million civil servants, is planned for autumn 2009, and it is expected that this will deliver an overall saving for the Exchequer compared with the costs of Departments carrying out surveys unilaterally.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which beacon councils have been nominated for recognition of best practice in waste collection in the last 24 months.

Jane Kennedy: The beacon councils scheme is run by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA). Councils apply for beacon status; they are not nominated. The waste theme was run in 'IDeA round seven' and beacon status for March 2006 to July 2007 was awarded to 10 councils.
	The requested information on successful councils can be found at:
	http://www.beacons.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=5148251

Farmers: Income

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average farm income was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the average farm business income and net farm income in England, since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  March  to  February each year  Average farm business income (per farm)  Average net farm income (per farm) 
			 1997-98 n/a 15,200 
			 1998-99 n/a 11,500 
			 1999-2000 n/a 8,700 
			 2000-01 n/a 10,600 
			 2001-02 n/a 14,900 
			 2002-03 n/a 16,600 
			 2003-04 36,800 29,500 
			 2004-05 28,300 21,200 
			 2005-06 28,600 21,100 
			 2006-07 34,400 26,700 
			 2007-08 48,100 38,600 
			  Note: 1. Farm business income is the headline measure of the profitability of farm businesses. It represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings. It is not available for years before 2003-04 given the way that data were recorded in earlier years.  Source:  Farm Business Survey(1) (1) The FBS sample covers businesses with a Standard Labour Requirement (SLR) of at least 0.5, i.e. a size considered sufficient to occupy a farmer for at least half their time. 
		
	
	Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business. It is net of an imputed rental charge on owned land and an imputed charge for other unpaid labour.

Fisheries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many deep sea fishermen there are in England.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There is no precise definition of what constitutes a deep sea fisherman, although vessels over 24 metres in length have the capability to fish in such waters. In 2007, there were 104 active English fishing vessels over 24 metres in length with 1,003 full-time and nine part-time fishermen.

Fisheries: Essex

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fisheries officers were based in each principal town in Essex in each of the last three years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There has been one fishery officer in Essex, based in Harwich, in each of the last three years.

Fisheries: International Cooperation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 9 October 2008,  Official Report, column 732W, on fisheries: international co-operation, what experience officials have had of the committee to date.

Huw Irranca-Davies: UK officials have attended these meetings and have found them a useful forum to discuss potential difficulties and agree practical solutions.

Fisheries: Pollution Control

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's policy on minimising pollution from line fishing.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency (EA) has published a Research and Development report entitled 'The Impact of Lost and Discarded Fishing Line and Tackle on Mute Swans' (2002). This showed that around 30 per cent. of all reported swan incidents could be attributed to fishing tackle related injuries. However, between 1996-99 only 3.6 per cent. of swan rescues could be attributed to lead poisoning nationally, a significant decline since the restriction of lead weights was introduced in 1987.
	The EA works to maintain public awareness of the legislation and promote responsible techniques in angling to avoid lead and line loss to the environment.

Floods: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward the timetable for consultation of Canvey residents on plans to flood the west of Canvey Island.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Thames Estuary 2100 plan considers flood risk management and habitat creation proposals for the whole Thames estuary. It will be released for consultation by the Environment Agency on the 31 March 2009. West Canvey Marshes is one site in the plan and needs to be best considered as part of the wider estuary consultation.

Floods: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flood risk management projects  (a) in Greater London and  (b) on the Essex coastline his Department has identified for implementation.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency's Thames estuary 2100 strategic tidal flood risk management plan for the Thames estuary will show what actions are needed to manage flood risk through to the end of the century.
	In the Greater London area there are a total of 51 capital flood risk management schemes ongoing or planned to start within the next five years ranging in value from £100,000 to £11.4 million and significantly reducing flood risk to over 72,000 properties.
	The major capital schemes taking place in London are:
	Thames Barrier and Associated Gates Improvements
	Bermondsey and Deptford—Deptford Creek Tidal Frontages
	Barking and Dagenham—Tidal Sluice and Pumping Stations
	Salmons Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme (Enfield)
	Cobbins Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme (Waltham Abbey)
	The Environment Agency has a number of flood risk management projects that are at varying stages of implementation on the Essex coast. One scheme that has just been completed is at Jaywick which cost £10 million.

Floods: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flood prevention plans are being implemented around the Isle of Dogs.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency is producing a strategic tidal flood risk management plan for the Thames estuary through to the end of the century—called Thames Estuary 2100. This includes the future management of the Isle of Dogs tidal defences and the Thames Barrier which provide protection to the area.
	The Environment Agency has worked to raise awareness of tidal flood risk in the Isle of Dogs and presentations have been provided to members of the business community in Canary Wharf. A flood exercise has been developed for the Financial Services Authority based on a breach in the Canary Wharf area to test emergency plans.
	Discussions on tidal flood risk and its impacts on transport in the area have been held with Transport for London, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway, and members of the community have signed up to receive the Environment Agency flood warning service.

Floods: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to examine flood prevention measures along the River Rom in the London Borough of Havering.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency will continue to carry out routine maintenance on main rivers in the River Rom catchment to reduce the risk of flooding. Dredging work has recently been carried out on the section of the River Rom downstream of Roneo Corner, Rush Green in Romford.
	The Cross Road flood storage area at Collier Row, Romford will continue to be maintained providing upstream attenuation of peak flood flows. This flood storage facility alleviates the risk of flooding to properties within the west Romford area downstream of Collier Row.
	The Environment Agency is also implementing several improvement measures which will be carried out to the Cross Road flood storage area during 2010 and 2011 at an estimated overall cost of £620,000. This is to ensure that the current standard of flood alleviation is maintained for the downstream area.

Floods: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to fund maintenance of the River Rom in the London Borough of Havering.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The River Rom is a high risk system and in 2008-09 the Environment Agency carried out planned maintenance work. The Environment Agency plans to spend £40,000 in 2009-10 on further channel and asset maintenance.

Fly Tipping

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) successful prosecutions there were for fly-tipping in each local authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many incidents of fly-tipping were reported in each local authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what the estimated cost was of dealing with such incidents.

Jane Kennedy: I am arranging for the data requested to be placed in the Library of the House.
	Data on the number of incidents of fly-tipping and the number of prosecutions taken by local authorities against fly-tippers are currently available for the last four years only.
	DEFRA's Flycapture system started collecting data on the number of incidents cleared and enforcement actions taken by local authorities in 2004.
	The estimated cost of clearing fly-tipped waste shown in these tables does not necessarily reflect the cost to the taxpayer as some authorities have structured their service contracts to include the cost of clearing fly-tipped waste.
	Prosecution is only one of a number of enforcement actions that local authorities can use against fly-tippers. Warning letters, statutory notices, formal cautions and injunctions are also used where appropriate.

Food

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health on food security and public health.

Jane Kennedy: Following the machinery of government changes in October 2008, DEFRA has taken the lead in co-ordinating food policy across Government. As part of that we have introduced a new departmental strategic objective to ensure a sustainable, secure and healthy food supply. I regularly discuss food and health matters with ministerial colleagues—the new ministerial sub-committee on food (DA(F)) is another vital vehicle for this—and officials from DEFRA, the Department of Health, and other Departments are working together towards achieving objectives that we share on food.

Food: Waste Disposal

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of food waste which is organically produced.

Jane Kennedy: The DEFRA-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) undertook research in 2007 to quantify the amounts and types of household food waste produced in the UK. According to its report "The Food We Waste", UK households waste 6.7 million tonnes of food every year: around one third of the 21.7 million tonnes we purchase.
	No data were obtained to ascertain how much of that food was organically produced.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Maize

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on the early planting of MON 810 maize.

Huw Irranca-Davies: MON 810 was authorised for cultivation in 1998 under directive 90/220/EEC and has been grown in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic. While UK farmers are able to plant MON 810, the seed is not being marketed here.
	A farmer in Wales has claimed to have grown some MON 810 maize. However, it is not expected that MON 810 will be grown on a normal commercial basis in the UK. This maize is designed to be resistant to an insect pest, the European corn borer, which is not present in the UK, and the GM trait has been bred into maize varieties not suitable for UK conditions.

Horses: Transport

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horse passports have been issued by each of the issuing bodies in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the following table. These figures have been supplied by the National Equine Database, which only began collecting this information in 2006. We cannot provide exact data for previous years.
	
		
			  Passports issued 
			   Year of issue 
			  PIO name  2006  2007  2008  2009  Unknown  Grand total 
			 American Miniature Horse Club 14 14 — — — 65 
			 American Quarter Horse Association UK 81 152 163 16 2 1,161 
			 American Saddlebred Association of Great Britain 22 7 8 — — 58 
			 Anglo-European Studbook Ltd. 1,522 1,822 696 — 4 6,824 
			 Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHc) UK Ltd. 47 — — — — 370 
			 Arab Horse Society 1,253 1,835 1,411 — — 14,278 
			 British Appaloosa Society 725 280 301 67 7 1,657 
			 British Association for the Purebred Spanish Horse Ltd. 216 142 67 1 440 1,548 
			 British Bavarian Warmblood Association — — — — — 74 
			 British Carmargue Horse Society 13 8 5 — — 71 
			 British Connemara Pony Society 532 428 338 21 342 4,109 
			 British Driving Society 1,724 372 — — 5 2,787 
			 British Equestrian Federation 328 344 — — 2,742 3,419 
			 British Falabella Studbook 28 11 48 9 — 159 
			 British Hanoverian Horse Society 190 174 70 — — 990 
			 British Harness Racing Club 5 — — — — 195 
			 British Horse Database 2 — 3 — — 1,439 
			 British Horse Society 929 619 478 25 6 22,333 
			 British Morgan Horse Society 49 26 38 — 28 346 
			 British Palomino Society 25 125 123 — 3 443 
			 British Percheron Horse Society 34 97 21 — 11 778 
			 British Show Horse Association — 35 45 2 — 82 
			 British Show Jumping Association 700 427 272 — — 6,775 
			 British Skewbald and Piebald Association 653 575 250 — — 3,306 
			 Caspian Breed Society (UK) — 1 — — — 1 
			 Caspian Horse Society 17 10 — — 2 79 
			 Cleveland Bay Horse Society 121 137 142 — 840 1,240 
			 Clydesdale Horse Society 102 191 257 50 1 797 
			 Coloured Horse and Pony Society (UK) 485 1,025 950 95 7 3,136 
			 Dales Pony Society 182 173 143 — 1,065 2,057 
			 Dartmoor Pony Society 1,038 1,436 1,725 56 327 8,288 
			 Donkey Breed Society 1,034 745 356 71 81 12,824 
			 Eriskay Pony (Mother Society): Comann Each nan Eilean Ltd. 1 — 6 — — 84 
			 Eriskay Pony Society 28 16 12 — 35 284 
			 Exmoor Pony Society 263 243 245 58 330 2,565 
			 Farmkey 1,768 979 574 19 — 21,914 
			 Fell Pony Society 363 483 474 32 15 3,006 
			 Fjord Horse National Stud-book Association of Great Britain — — — — 93 102 
			 Fjord Horse Studbook Society 5 — — — 10 83 
			 Gypsy Cob Society 282 1,209 2,535 — 454 4,508 
			 Hackney Horse Society 113 170 91 16 — 512 
			 Highland Pony Society 10 365 476 67 1 975 
			 Horse Passport Agency Ltd. 13,900 10,420 8,534 634 3,893 145,678 
			 Horse Passports Ltd. 1,597 1,093 439 — 18 5,234 
			 Hurlingham Polo Association 1,339 1,528 96 — 737 9,989 
			 Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain 30 23 22 2 27 118 
			 International Miniature Horse and Pony Society 420 662 814 4 — 1,906 
			 Irish Draught Horse Society (GB) 241 261 164 — 17 1,188 
			 Lipizzaner National Studbook Association of Great Britain 148 198 75 — 22 1,196 
			 Lipizzaner Society of Great Britain — 9 2 — — 47 
			 Lusitano Breed Society (Great Britain) 38 32 25 — 25 155 
			 National Pony Society 576 589 621 91 4,073 8,505 
			 New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society 2,178 1,990 1,968 76 28 15,773 
			 Northern Ireland Horse Board Co-op Society Ltd. 1,462 1,605 1,688 — 45 8,058 
			 Oakdales (NI) Ltd. — 137 48 — — 185 
			 Pet-ID UK Ltd. 9,079 9,091 8,950 532 1,415 90,338 
			 Pleasure Horse Society 1,513 1,089 1,002 51 — 36,298 
			 Scottish Sports Horse 299 111 305 14 36 2,272 
			 Selle Francais EquiCours 2 — — — — 43 
			 Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society 3,850 3,830 4,136 10 27 13,901 
			 Shire Horse Society 46 19 13 — 3,053 3,288 
			 Show Jumping Association of Ireland: Ulster Region 79 166 155 41 1 442 
			 Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain 2,703 2,460 2,241 309 998 19,330 
			 Sport Pony Studbook Society 21 3 — — 20 449 
			 Spotted Horse and Pony Society 33 — — — — 34 
			 Spotted Pony Breed Society (Great Britain) 89 — — — — 406 
			 Standard and Trotting Horse Association of Great Britain and Ireland 820 401 530 — — 4,255 
			 Suffolk Horse Society 49 39 — — 40 489 
			 Trakehners UK 122 119 69 — 113 920 
			 United Saddlebred Association UK Ltd. 17 19 10 — 36 513 
			 Veteran Horse Society 1,766 1,013 654 — 1 19,076 
			 Warmblood Breeders Studbook: UK 250 13 — — 141 612 
			 Weatherbys 20,625 22,857 22,227 198 47,850 153,511 
			 Weatherbys ID Passports 2,998 2,324 1,843 113 — 54,547 
			 Welsh Pony and Cob Society 10,818 8,884 11,373 1,444 45,131 100,500 
			 Grand total 92,012 85,661 80,327 4,124 114,598 834,978

Livestock: Exports

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) unweaned calves,  (b) cattle,  (c) sheep and  (d) other livestock species were exported from the UK for (i) further fattening and (ii) slaughter in 2008.

Jane Kennedy: Data collected from the EU Commission's Trade Control Expert System (TRACES) indicate that the following numbers of live cattle, sheep, goats and pigs were certified by official veterinarians as meeting the intra-Community trade rules for dispatch from the United Kingdom to other EU member states for either further fattening or slaughter during 2008:
	
		
			   Number of animals certified for: 
			  Livestock type  Fattening  Slaughter  Total 
			 Cattle 84,484 17,597 102,081 
			 Sheep 58,416 256,447 314,863 
			 Goats 4 1 5 
			 Pigs 2710 26,001 28,711 
			 Total 145,614 300,046 445,660 
		
	
	Information on whether any of these animals were unweaned at the time of dispatch is not captured on TRACES, therefore these data are not available.
	The number of animals certified for export from the United Kingdom to countries outside of the EU is not recorded centrally, meaning that it is not possible to provide these data.

Nature Conservation

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support investment in upland management in respect of water quality and wildlife.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Within DEFRA's agri-environment schemes—Environmental Stewardship and the predecessor schemes, Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas—funding is available for environmental management in the uplands which will contribute to improving water quality and biodiversity. This includes, for instance, the management of moorland, upland rough grazing, grip blocking, moorland re-wetting, heather management restoration and maintenance of upland dry stone walls.
	The Secretary of State has also recently announced the introduction of a new uplands strand of Environmental Stewardship (Uplands ELS) in 2010, to replace the Hill Farm Allowance. The objective of Uplands ELS includes maintaining and improving the biodiversity and water quality in England's uplands, by supporting the land management practices which deliver these benefits. Funding for Uplands ELS is expected to be around £25 million per year.
	The England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI) aims to help farmers to reduce diffuse pollution from agricultural land through both advice and grants. The ECSFDI is delivered in 50 priority catchments including a number of catchments in England's uplands. DEFRA is providing funding of £12.9 million for the ECSFDI in 2009-10 of which £5 million is available for capital grants. These grants are for the improvement or installation of facilities that would benefit water quality by reducing diffuse pollution.

Pesticides

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to conduct a consultation on the list of ingredients of pesticides to be proscribed under section 43 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Secretary of State may not make an order under section 43 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 unless he is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so. We will be further assessing the need for such an order in the light of the findings of a pre-consultation exercise undertaken last year and will then determine what the next steps should be. A wider consultation may take place later this year.

Private Finance Initiative

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-48WS, on Government infrastructure investment, whether any private finance initiative schemes relating to waste management are subject to  (a) cancellation,  (b) postponement or  (c) renegotiation.

Jane Kennedy: Following the recent announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) on Government infrastructure investment, no decisions have been made on private finance initiative (PFI) waste management schemes. Therefore at this time, none is subject to cancellation, postponement or renegotiation.
	However, any PFI deal in the procurement process could be subject to cancellation, postponement and renegotiation for any number of other commercial reasons.
	I can confirm that there are currently 19 PFI waste projects in procurement, with a further 11 currently in the application process for PFI credits which have not yet been granted approval by the Treasury.

Recycling: Carbon Emissions

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been  (a) undertaken and  (b) evaluated into carbon dioxide emissions from recycling and transporting recyclable waste by (i) his Department, (ii) the Waste and Resources Action Programme, (iii) the Environment Agency and (iv) the Carbon Trust.

Jane Kennedy: As part of DEFRA's Waste and Resources Evidence Programme, we have undertaken the project 'Carbon Balances and Energy Impacts of the Management of UK Waste Streams' (WR0602), and evaluated it through peer review. An additional project, 'Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Biowaste Management' (WR0210), is in the final stages of completion following peer reviewers' comments.
	The DEFRA-funded Waste and Resources Programme (WRAP) has carried out a range of studies in this area which are available on its website:
	WRAP (2006) Environmental Benefits of Recycling;
	WRAP (2008) Life Cycle Assessment of Mixed Waste Plastic Management Options;
	WRAP (2008) Life Cycle Assessment of Plasterboard;
	WRAP (2008) CO2 Impacts of Transporting the UK's Recovered Paper and Plastic Bottles to China.
	WRAP's research has found that for most materials, the emissions from transportation are far outweighed by the savings from processes avoided by recycling. This is true even when exporting materials to the far east.
	The Environment Agency carried out research into emissions from recycling plant and fuel consumption for collecting waste in relation to its life cycle software, Waste and Resource Assessment Tool for the Environment (WRATE), which uses the data to estimate the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from different waste management systems.
	The Carbon Trust, in association with DEFRA, has co-sponsored the development of PAS (Publicly Available Specification) 2050—specification for the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services—through the British Standards Institution. This specification details a method for the assessment of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases arising from all processes in the supply chain of goods and services, which includes recycling and the transport activities. Through its application, businesses can understand the carbon impact of their products and ultimately follow this up with tangible ways to cut carbon emissions across the supply chain.
	As part of the development and implementation of PAS 2050, the Carbon Trust has carried out research into the different methods used to measure these emissions, and sought to understand different stakeholder views of these methods; however, the Carbon Trust has not undertaken or evaluated specific research into the CO2 emissions from recycling and transportation of recyclable waste. Following the publication of PAS 2050, the Carbon Label Company has carried out further research into different methods of measuring emissions from recycling and transportation of recyclable waste to support its implementation.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many agricultural workers entered the UK under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme in each of the last three years; what estimate he has made of the number who will do so in 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of agricultural workers who entered the UK under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) in the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006 16,244 
			 2007 16,250 
			 2008 16,250 
		
	
	This is against an agreed quota for each year of 16,250.
	On the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) the quota for 2009 has been increased to 21,250. There is expected to be a full uptake of this quota.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Shellfish

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department has collected on the  (a) volume,  (b) monetary value and  (c) port of catch of (i) brown crabs, (ii) velvet crabs, (iii) lobsters, (iv) creel-caught langoustine, (v) whelks, (vi) squat lobsters, (vii) diver-caught or -gathered razor clams and (viii) diver-caught or -gathered king scallops in Scotland in each calendar quarter since 2006.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The information requested is collected by the Scottish Government and is made available to the Marine and Fisheries Agency through the UK data warehouse, IFISH. The data requested are available for the years 2006 and 2007 and have been placed in the Library of the House.

Thames Flood Barrier

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the anticipated effective life expectancy of the Thames barrier is; and if he will commission plans to upgrade or replace the existing Thames barrier.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency's Thames Estuary 2100 project estimates that under current guidance for sea level rise (DEFRA 2006), the Thames barrier will drop below the 1 in 1,000 standard of protection around 2070.
	The Thames Estuary 2100 project will release its draft plan for consultation on March 31. The plan will make recommendations on what actions will be required to manage future tidal flood risk within the estuary, and when these will be required, through to the end of the century. The plan will include recommendations on the future upgrading or replacement of the Thames barrier after 2070.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 869W, on waste disposal: domestic waste, to what use the funding committed to support waste incentive pilot schemes will now be put.

Jane Kennedy: No authorities have so far expressed an interest in using the powers in the Climate Change Act to pilot a waste reduction scheme. We are therefore considering how the funding earmarked for the pilots could best be focused, in line with departmental priorities.

HEALTH

Allergies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) males and  (b) females in each age group who have (i) food and (ii) inhalant allergies; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department does not collect these data.
	Food and inhalant allergies may present in a variety of forms, including allergic rhinitis, asthma and inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The Department's "A review of services for allergy", published in July 2006 (a copy of which has been placed in the Library), provided data on annual prevalence of general practice consultation rates for these conditions. This information is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  Annual prevalence (of consultation) rates per 10,000 
			Age s tandardised (95 per cent. CI)  All ages  < 1  1 -4  5-14  15-24  25-44  45-64  65-74  75+ 
			 Allergic rhinitis (477) M 152 (147-158) 152 5 112 308 241 143 86 84 77 
			  F 171 (165-177) 173 0 73 224 305 214 121 89 70 
			  Source: RCGP Weekly Returns Service. 
		
	
	
		
			  Annual prevalence (of consultation) rates per 10,000 
			Age s tandardised (95 per cent. CI)  All ages  < 1  1 -4  5-14  15-24  25-44  45-64  65-74  75+ 
			 Skin and subcutaneous tissue other inflamcond (690-698) M 564 (552-575) 554 2280 1525 558 360 381 497 723 823 
			  F 750 (737-763) 746 2201 1592 691 743 637 668 745 821 
			  Source: RCGP Weekly Returns Service. 
		
	
	
		
			  Annual prevalence (of consultation) per 10,000  by age and gender 
			Age s tandardised (95 per cent. CI)  All ages  < 1  1 -4  5-14  15-24  25-44  45-64  65-74  75+ 
			 Asthma (493) M 412 (403-422) 409 41 440 690 441 353 323 429 396 
			  F 482 (472-493) 484 16 282 501 609 472 488 546 411 
			  Source: RCGP Weekly Returns Service.

Bone Marrow Disorders

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on the waiting list for bone marrow transplants in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire.

Ann Keen: The Department does not hold this information centrally.

Cancer: Drugs

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons his Department recommended that temsirolimus should be referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for appraisal as part of the multiple technology appraisal in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Ann Keen: Temsirolimus was referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as part of the multiple technology appraisal of drugs for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma in September 2007, following a consultation by NICE with stakeholders on the proposed remit and scope for the appraisal. Information on this consultation, including a summary of responses, is available on the NICE website at:
	www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/TA/Wave14/22

Childbirth

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 634W, on childbirth, what use his Department has made of the figures on survival to age one of babies born in England and Wales by gestation weeks produced by the Office for National Statistics in its research into  (a) premature babies and  (b) neonatal deaths.

Ann Keen: The Department funds but does not directly undertake research concerned with premature birth and neonatal death. We expect the researchers we support to be aware and make appropriate use of vital statistics such as those published by the Office for National Statistics.

Chlamydia: Screening

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of Chlamydia tests carried out in  (a) genito-urinary medicine clinics,  (b) GP surgeries and  (c) pharmacies in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Data on the number of sexual health screens, which includes a test for Chlamydia, in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics between 2003 and 2007, the latest year for which figures are available, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Sexual health screens 
			   Number 
			 2003 633,289 
			 2004 727,010 
			 2005 810,140 
			 2006 883,488 
			 2007 1,022,801 
			  Notes: 1. One sexual health screen includes a test for Chlamydia and gonorrhoea at minimum and this is considered as one screen. 2. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for Chlamydia tests in GUM clinics only. Chlamydia tests in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset. 3. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of tests made, not the number of patients tested. 4. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data. 5. Data are unavailable for 2008  Source:  Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns 
		
	
	In addition to sexual health screens in GUM clinics, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) provides screening for Chlamydia to asymptomatic people aged under 25 years of age in healthcare and non- healthcare settings across England. The NCSP was launched in 2003. The following table shows the total number of Chlamydia tests done in general practice and pharmacies among 15-24 year-olds during the period 1 April 2003-31March 2008.
	
		
			  Venue type 
			   General practitioner surgeries  Pharmacies 
			 2003-04 2,445 0 
			 2004-05 7,426 36 
			 2005-06 17,281 8,272 
			 2006-07 23,271 13,309 
			 2007-08 43,046 9,052 
			  Notes: 1. Data includes Chlamydia tests for males, females, and those with unknown/unspecified sex. 2. Data presented are the number of Chlamydia tests performed and not number of people tested. It should be noted that the number of Chlamydia tests collected through the NCSP will be used as a proxy for the number of people tested. 3. Data presented are based on tests with confirmed positive and negative results only. Tests with equivocal, inhibitory and insufficient results have been excluded as most people with these results are retested. 4. Data presented are based on young people resident in England only. 5. The total number of tests will increase annually as the NCSP was rolled out in phases across England with participation of all 152 primary care trusts occurring at the end of 2007-08. 6. The total number of tests done in pharmacies increased substantially in 2005-06 because the Boots Pathfinder pilot was run between November 2005 and March 2008. The pilot project was based on Chlamydia testing being made available in selected Boots pharmacies across London.  Source:  National Chlamydia Screening Programme

Clostridium

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1882-3W, on clostridium, how often cancer was mentioned on the death certificates on which  (a) MRSA and  (b) clostridium difficile was mentioned in each year.

Ann Keen: The information is shown in the following tables. Figures for Methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are for the year 1997 to 2007, and for  Clostridium difficile for the years 1999 and 2001 to 2007, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		
			  Deaths involving Clostridium difficile( 1,2)  where cancer( 3)  was also mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales( 4) , 1999, 2001 to 2007( 5) 
			  Persons 
			   Deaths 
			 1999 74 
			 2001 94 
			 2002 132 
			 2003 160 
			 2004 236 
			 2005 394 
			 2006 796 
			 2007 1,168 
			 (1) Identified using the methodology described in Office for National Statistics (ONS): Report: Deaths involving  Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 2001-2005. Health Statistics Quarterly 33, 71-75. (2) Deaths involving  Clostridium difficile can only be identified using the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). This has been used by ONS for coding mortality from 2001 onwards and in 1999 for a bridge coding study. Data are therefore not available for 2000 when the Ninth Revision of the ICD was in use. (3) Cause of death for cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97. (4) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (5) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Deaths involving  Methicillin -resistant Staphylococcus aureus( 1)  where cancer( 2)  was also mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales( 3) , 1999 to 2007( 4) 
			  Persons 
			   Deaths 
			 1997 115 
			 1998 118 
			 1999 102 
			 2000 170 
			 2001 124 
			 2002 149 
			 2003 181 
			 2004 218 
			 2005 305 
			 2006 283 
			 2007 271 
			 (1) Identified using the methodology described in Griffiths C, Lamagni TL, Crowcroft NS, Duckworth G and Rooney C (2004). Trends in MRSA in England and Wales: analysis of morbidity and mortality data for 1993-2002. Health Statistics Quarterly 21, 15-22. (2) Cause of death for cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 140-208 for 1999 to 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97 for 2001 to 2007. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the number of deaths from this cause, before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years. (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Clostridium

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1882-83W, on clostridium, which five other conditions were mentioned most frequently on the death certificates on which  (a) MRSA and  (b) clostridium difficile was mentioned in each year; and how often each such condition was mentioned in each year.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Figures for Methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are available for the years 2001 to 2007, and for  Clostridium difficile for the years 1999 and 2001 to 2007, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		
			  Table 1: The five causes of death( 1)  mentioned most frequently on death certificates on which MRSA( 2)  was also mentioned, England and Wales( 3) ,2001-07( 4,5) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Causes of death  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  ICD codes 
			 Cerebrovascular diseases * 140 * 174 265 * * I60-I69 
			 Diabetes 148 * * * * * 253 E10-E14 
			 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 147 143 178 187 274 284 250 M00-M99 
			 Diseases of the urinary system 260 300 363 393 505 535 498 N00-N39 
			 Heart failure and complications and ill-defined heart disease * * 175 * * 264 * I50-I51 
			 Influenza and pneumonia 206 192 246 264 401 401 453 J10-J18 
			 Ischaemic heart diseases 196 221 267 311 396 442 404 I20-I25 
			 (1) Selected using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code groups published in: Griffiths C, Rooney C and Brock A (2005) Leading causes of death in England and Wales—how should we group causes? "Health Statistics Quarterly" 28, p6-17. Codes used to identify MRSA deaths were excluded. (2) Identified using the methodology described in Griffiths C, Lamagni TL, Crowcroft NS, Duckworth G and Rooney C (2004). Trends in MRSA in England and Wales: analysis of morbidity and mortality data for 1993-2002. "Health Statistics Quarterly" 21, 15-22. (3 )Figures for England and Wales includes deaths of non-residents. (4) Data are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (5) An asterisk (*) denotes this was not one of the five causes of death mentioned most frequently in this year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: The five causes of death( 1)  mentioned most frequently on death certificates on which Clostridium difficile( 2,3 ) was also mentioned, England and Wales( 4) , 1999 and 2001 to 2007( 5,6) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Causes of death  1999  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  ICD codes 
			 Cerebrovascular diseases * * * * * 468 769 1,057 I60-I69 
			 Diseases of the urinary system 173 216 302 381 535 894 1,657 2,086 N00-N39 
			 Heart failure and complications and ill-defined heart disease 131 166 182 232 290 * * * I50-I51 
			 Influenza and pneumonia 333 364 445 513 618 992 1,706 2,180 J10-J18 
			 Ischaemic heart diseases 183 223 244 373 433 675 1,199 1,604 I20-I25 
			 Septicaemia 145 202 280 349 461 816 1,459 1,627 A40-A41 
			 (1) Selected using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code groups published in: Griffiths C, Rooney C and Brock A (2005) Leading causes of death in England and Wales—how should we group causes? "Health Statistics Quarterly" 28, p6-17. Codes used to identify  Clostridium difficile deaths were excluded. (2 )Identified using the methodology described in Office for National Statistics (ONS): Report: Deaths involving  Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 2001-05. "Health Statistics Quarterly" 33, 71-75. (3) Deaths involving  Clostridium difficile can be identified using the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). This has been used by ONS for coding mortality from 2001 onwards and in 1999 for a bridge coding study. Data are therefore not available for 2000 when the Ninth Revision of the ICD was in use. (4) Figures for England and Wales includes deaths of non-residents. (5) Data are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (6) An asterisk (*) denotes this was not one of the five causes of death mentioned most frequently in this year

General Practitioners: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new  (a) GP surgeries,  (b) GP-led health centres and  (c) polyclinics are planned in (i) the Enfield North constituency and (ii) Enfield Primary Care Trust area.

Ben Bradshaw: This is a matter for the local national health service. We are advised that Enfield Primary Care Trust will be consulting on a Primary Care Strategy for the whole of Enfield in 2009. The hon. Member may wish to contact them for further information.

General Practitioners: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP surgeries have been  (a) refurbished and  (b) rebuilt in (i) Enfield North constituency and (ii) the Enfield Primary Care Trust area in each of the last 11 years.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact her local national health service organisations for more information.

Hospitals: Cleaning Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1474W, on hospitals: cleaning services, what steps his Department has taken to evaluate the effectiveness of each of the steps to improve hospital cleanliness.

Ann Keen: The Department has given a strong public commitment to hospital cleanliness and has set in place a comprehensive programme of work that has improved cleaning standards across the national health service. Evaluation of the effectiveness of all the measures set in place is independently available via the Healthcare Commission's annual health check, its annual in-patient survey and its programme of specialist inspections of acute trusts to assess their compliance with the duties set out in the "Health Act 2006 Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections" ('hygiene code'). Cleaning standards are also measured via the annual Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) inspection programme.
	In addition, a number of other evaluations of the effectiveness of, or compliance with, particular measures are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Measure  Action taken 
			 National deep clean programme The Department published a compendium of good practice studies arising from the national deep clean programme, "From Deep Clean to Keep Clean learning from the deep clean programme" in October 2008, as a basis for shared learning across the NHS. 
			 National Specifications for cleanliness in the NHS The Department is currently working with National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and key stakeholders to explore the scope for using these specifications to develop a national standard for cleanliness in the NHS. It is also seeking the views of those stakeholders to identify measures that could sharpen the focus of the existing national specifications. 
			 Trusts' strategic and operational cleaning plans make provision for on-going deep clean activity With the support of the NPSA, the PEAT protocol has been amended to include a specific question on plans for on-going deep cleaning. 
			 'Board to Ward' guidance highlighting the commitment needed to ensure that all staff understand the role they play in preventing infections and providing a clean environment "Going Further Faster II; Applying the learning to reduce HCAI and improve cleanliness" was published in June 2008 reflecting the accumulated learning, evidence and good practice on the key actions that NHS trusts can take towards the goal of eradicating avoidable healthcare associated infections and delivering a clean NHS. 
			 "Clean Safe Care Reducing Infections and saving lives"—comprehensive strategy drawing together key initiatives to tackle healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and cleanliness The Department has commissioned an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Healthcare Associated Infection and Cleanliness Improvement programme (one strand of the 'Clean, safe care', strategy) with a specific focus on the work streams focused on reductions in the incidence of MRSA.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of infections which were caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococcus in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not available but reporting of clinically-significant glycopeptide resistant enterococci bloodstream infection has been mandatory for national health service acute trusts in England since September 2003.
	Glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE) include organisms that are resistant to either vancomycin or teicoplanin and the available data are shown as follows.
	
		
			  Reporting year  (October to September each year)  Number of GRE bloodstream infection reports 
			 2003-04 628 
			 2004-05 757 
			 2005-06 903 
			 2006-07 910 
			  Source: Health Protection Agency

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia have been recorded in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of healthcare-acquired infections which were classified as surgical site infections in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not available.
	A prevalence study, commissioned by the Department, carried out in 2006, showed that surgical site infection accounted for 14.5 per cent. of the healthcare-associated infections.

Human Papilloma Virus

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has for the implementation of EU guidelines for quality assurance in cervical cancer screening on human papilloma virus testing as a follow-up for women with borderline or abnormal smear test results; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he plans to publish the results of his Department's human papilloma virus sentinel sites implementation project.

Ann Keen: Work on the implementation phase of human papilloma virus (HPV) triage for women with borderline and low-grade abnormalities using HPV testing has begun in six sentinel sites. Results from these sites are expected by the end of December 2009, at which point further roll-out will be considered.

Maternity Services: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much has been spent on maternity services in each financial year since 1997-98; and how much he plans to spend on such services in each financial year to 2010-11;
	(2)  how much the Government have spent on maternity services in each financial year since 1997-98; and how much they plan to spend on such services in each financial year to 2010-11.

Ann Keen: Figures for the commissioning of secondary health care (maternity) services by primary care trusts (PCTs), health authorities (HAs) and primary care groups for the period 1997-98 to 2007-08 are in the following table. These figures are for secondary health care only and a similar collection is not made for primary/community maternity care.
	
		
			  Purchase of secondary health care: maternity services, 1997-98 to 2007-08 
			  Financial year  Expenditure (£000) 
			 1997-98 1,043,881 
			 1998-99 1,096,158 
			 1999-2000 1,080,520 
			 2000-01 1,258,219 
			 2001-02 1,324,780 
			 2002-03 1,256,757 
			 2003-04 1,350,286 
			 2004-05 1,544,838 
			 2005-06 1,677,204 
			 2006-07 1,616,777 
			 2007-08 1,786,896 
			  Source: NHS Summarised Accounts 1997-98 to 2007-08. 
		
	
	The table shows the aggregated expenditure for each year, however any inter-PCT or inter-HA expenditure is eliminated to avoid double counting.
	The programme budgeting figures for gross expenditure across both primary and secondary care on maternity and reproductive health for the period 2003-04 to 2006-07 are in the following table. It is not possible to separate maternity data from reproductive health data, and changes in data collection methodology mean that comparative data are not available. Programme budgeting data were collected for the first time in 2003-04. The quality of programme budgeting data has improved over time, and there are a number of changes that will affect the use of the data for time-series analysis. These include changes to clinical coding and changes in the methodology used for calculating the data.
	Programme budgeting category 18 includes expenditure on both maternity and reproductive health, therefore direct comparisons cannot be made with NHS summarised accounts data.
	
		
			  Programme budgeting data 
			  Financial year  Expenditure (£000) 
			 2003-04 2,570,147 
			 2004-05 2,617,116 
			 2005-06 2,929,764 
			 2006-07 2,932,120 
		
	
	These figures have been published in the Department of Health resource accounts. Programme budgeting data for 2007-08 are still being collected and validated, and will include primary and secondary care maternity and reproductive health. These data will be published on the Department's website.
	Maternity services have been identified as a priority for the national health service in the operating frameworks for 2008-09 and 2009-10. For the period 2008-09 to 2010-11, £330 million additional investment for maternity is included within PCT revenue allocations. PCTs were informed of their revenue allocations for 2008-09 in December 2007. The 2009-10 and 2010-11 revenue allocations were announced on 8 December 2008. It is for NHS commissioners and trusts to plan the exact spend on maternity services in each financial year to 2010-11 in line with national and local priorities and local plans, including the strategic health authority visions for maternity and the new born developed as part of the NHS next stage review.

Maternity Services: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1478W, on maternity services: finance, how much additional funding he estimates NHS trusts in England will receive for the provision of maternity services in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11, broken down by the element of the maternity tariff through which the additional funding will be received.

Ann Keen: The payment by results national tariff pays national health service trusts for the amount of activity they do. Therefore the amount of additional funding that NHS trusts will receive for the provision of maternity services within the scope of the tariff in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11 will depend on levels of activity. The latest year for which hospital activity data are available is 2007-08.

Maternity Services: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1478W, on maternity services: finance, what percentage changes there will be to each element of the maternity tariff in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Ann Keen: In 2009-10, Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) version 4 has replaced HRG version 3.5 as the tariff currency. There have also been structural changes to the out-patients tariff. These changes mean that it is not possible to make direct comparisons between 2008-09 and 2009-10. The 2010-11 tariff has not been published.

Medical Treatments: Labelling

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet  (a) the British Brands Group and  (b) the Anti-Counterfeiting Group to discuss healthcare product branding.

Ann Keen: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for regulating medicines and medical devices and is responsible for branding of medicines and the tackling of counterfeiting of medicines.
	To date, no requests have been made by either of these groups to meet with the Secretary of State for Health or other Health Ministers.
	However, any such request to the Minister would be considered.

Medicines

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has undertaken into competition in provision of pharmaceutical products by high street pharmacies and GP practices.

Phil Hope: The Department has not undertaken a formal study. However, we sought views on a proposal to allow, where there is no convenient alternative, dispensing doctors to sell over-the-counter medicines as part of our wider consultation last autumn, "Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths—delivering the future—proposals for legislative change".
	We published a partial impact assessment concerning this proposal with that consultation which includes a competition assessment that sets out our analysis of the possible effects on competition of the proposal. It is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Closedconsultations
	and a copy has been placed in the Library.
	The proposal was also discussed at events around the country as part of the consultation process. A full report of that consultation will be published in due course.

Midwives: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what mechanism his Department is using to ensure that the 4,000 extra midwives to be provided by 2012 are being provided at a local level in the NHS;
	(2)  how many of the 4,000 extra midwives to be provided by 2012 have already been provided; and how many he expects will be provided in each year to 2012.

Ann Keen: The number of midwives increased by 624 between September 2006 and September 2007. The following table sets out strategic health authority (SHA) projections for midwives up to 2012.
	
		
			  NHS midwife headcount and projections in England 
			  SHA  2006( 1)  2007( 1)  2008( 2)  2009( 3)  2012( 3) 
			 East Midlands 1,703 1,692 1,811 1,792 1,942 
			 East of England 2,326 2,380 2,416 2,439 2,586 
			 London 4,301 4,188 4,612 4,402 4,720 
			 North East 1,272 1,284 1,323 1,323 1,390 
			 North West 3,949 4,030 3,908 4,193 4,437 
			 South Central 1,550 1,787 1,726 1,855 2,329 
			 South East Coast 1,760 1,808 1,865 2,368 2,538 
			 South West 2,370 2,344 2,523 2,556 2,875 
			 West Midlands 2,770 2,750 2,933 2,924 3,063 
			 Yorks and Humber 2,443 2,460 2,455 2,492 2,644 
			 England total 24,444 24,723 25,572 26,344 28,524 
			 (1) Actual data from work force census. (2) Estimate of electronic staff records plus bank staff at 30 September 2007. Actual 2008 NHS work force census figures to be published on 25 March 2009. (3) Predictions based on current estimates and work force trends. 
		
	
	The NHS operating framework 2009-10 already provides a strong steer on making demonstrable overall improvements in maternity services, including 4,000 more midwives by 2012, contingent on the birth rate.

NHS: Drugs

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the referral of ultra-orphan drugs to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for appraisal.

Ann Keen: The referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of drugs for the treatment of very small patient populations, sometimes referred to as 'ultra-orphan' drugs, is considered on a case-by-case basis.
	The Department and NICE are currently consulting on proposed revisions to the process and criteria for selecting topics for referral to NICE'S technology appraisal work programme. The consultation document is available at:
	www.nice.org.uk/getinvolved/suggestatopic/
	and a copy has already been placed in the Library.

NHS: Working Hours

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the tariff uplift breakdown for 2009-10, published by his Department on 5 February 2009, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's background analysis of the sum required to support compliance with the European Working Time Directive.

Ann Keen: The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) requires a 14 per cent. reduction in the maximum working hours of doctors in training, from 56 to 48 from August 2009. This equates to the hours provided by around 4,000 doctors in training. Implementation can be through a range of measures, including additional medical work force capacity at either junior or senior level, new ways of working so that non-medical staff can take up duties currently done by doctors in training or through service redesign such as implementing hospital at night working practices.
	The Department is making a total of £310 million available by 2009-10 to support implementation in recurrent PCT allocations. In 2008-09, £110 million was included in the quantum of allocation funding in all primary care trusts (PCTs) receiving revenues growth of 5.5 per cent. In 2009-10, a further £200 million has been included in PCT revenue allocations, of which £150 million will flow through tariff income to trusts and the remaining £50 million in PCT revenue allocations will be targeted to trusts according to strategic health authority (SHA) direction to support trained doctor solutions, particularly in paediatrics and anaesthetics.
	The Department has estimated that the full cost of implementation could be around £300 million per year. This calculation is based on an analysis of the difference in doctors being 100 per cent. compliant at 56 hours and 100 per cent. compliant at 48 hours, so includes a valuation of:
	difference in pay to existing doctors; and
	assessment of the value of hours lost.
	This level of detail information of the background analysis is not held centrally.

Nurses: Manpower

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of nurses which will be required in the NHS over the next three years.

Ann Keen: The latest assessment was made in 2008. These estimates suggested that the employment of qualified nurses (including midwives, heath visiting staff and general practitioner practice nurses) would increase from 322,182 (in full-time equivalents (FTEs)) in September 2007 to approximately 327,000 FTEs in 2008-09, 329,000 FTEs in 2009-10 and 334,500 FTEs in 2010-11. This would be a growth of almost 4 per cent. over three years.
	These are broad projections made for central purposes and are subject to local work force planning decisions and local factors including skill mix, productivity and affordability.

Nurses: Training

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the attrition rate for nurse training was for the  (a) first,  (b) second and  (c) third year of training in the latest year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.

Obesity

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to introduce a more easily understandable measure of obesity.

Ann Keen: Obesity in adults is measured using Body Mass Index (BMI). It compares weight to height by dividing the weight measurement in kilograms by the square of the height in metres. BMI is the internationally recognised standard for identifying overweight and obesity. An adult who has a BMI equal to 30 or greater is classified as obese.
	In children defining obesity is more difficult because they are growing, so both their height and weight change at the same time. In children, standard United Kingdom reference charts for weight relative to height are used which are age and gender specific.
	We have no current plans for changing the existing measurement of obesity.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are  (a) in place and  (b) planned to assist people on low incomes with prescription charges.

Ann Keen: The current mechanisms in place for entitlement to free prescriptions on the basis of a low income are as follows.
	(1) People receiving the following:
	income support,
	income based jobseeker's allowance,
	income related employment and support allowance, or
	pension credit guarantee credit (in respect of a partner under 60 as the recipient would be exempt on age grounds); or
	(2) A member of a family that is receiving:
	working tax credit with child tax credit,
	working tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element, or
	child tax credit but is not eligible for working tax credit, and
	the annual income of the family for tax credit purposes is £15,050 or less (or £15,276 from 6 April 2009);
	(3) An asylum seeker for whom support is provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
	(4) A person who lives permanently in a care home whose fees are paid in whole or part by a local authority;
	(5) A young person supported by a local authority as he/she has just left care; and
	(6) Anyone not in any of the above groups may make a National Health Service Low Income scheme claim for their entitlement to free prescriptions to be calculated by the National Health Service Business Services Authority.
	Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) for three months or 12 months are available for anyone who is not otherwise entitled to free prescriptions. PPCs offer savings to anyone who needs four or more prescription items in three months or 14 or more items in 12 months. 12-month PPCs may be paid for by 10 direct debit instalments.
	We recognise we need a fairer system of prescription charging. That is why the Prime Minister announced in September last year that exemption from prescription charges would be extended to cancer patients and to patients with other long-term conditions. In this way, we will alleviate the financial burden for those suffering from ill health.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with  (a) Welsh Assembly Government Ministers,  (b) Scottish Executive Ministers and  (c) Northern Ireland Executive Ministers on levels of prescription charges.

Ann Keen: We have had no such discussions. Prescription charging is a devolved matter and decisions in this area are for each devolved Administration to determine.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Bail Accommodation and Support Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a defendant required to reside in bail accommodation and support service (BASS) accommodation as a condition of bail is eligible for  (a) housing and  (b) council tax benefit in relation to their (i) usual place of residence and (ii) BASS accommodation.

Kitty Ussher: Defendants who are released on bail to BASS accommodation are entitled to housing benefit and council tax benefit for that accommodation because it is their usual place of residence. If a defendant has a place of residence other than their BASS accommodation he/she would not normally be entitled to housing benefit for that former home as well. There are no provisions to pay council tax benefit for two homes because generally a person does not have liability for two homes if only one is being occupied.

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Finance

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what funding has been allocated to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in each year between 2008-09 and 2011-12;
	(2)  what funding has been allocated  (a) by his Department and  (b) the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission for operating the Child Maintenance Options service for each year from 2008-09 to 2011-12.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 22 January 2009
	The funding the Department has allocated to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is published in the Commission's Business Plan. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Minister promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. The Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission.
	; and
	What funding has been allocated (a) by his Department and (b) the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission for operating the Child Maintenance Options service for each year from 2008-09 to 2011-12.
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission business plan published in July 2008, sets out the agreed funding for the current three year spending review period. The funding estimates set out in the business plan were based on the best estimates, trends and evidence available at the time. The funding requirement was estimated as £625 million for the current year to March 2009 and indicative funding requirement of £1,137 million for the following two years to March 2011. This funding covers both the Commission's spend on developing new services, creating the future statutory maintenance scheme and the full running costs of the Child Support Agency for the three years to the end of March 2011.
	The three year contract to deliver the Child Maintenance Options was published 5 March 2008 as an Official Journal of the European Union contract award notice with a contract value of £23 million.
	Future funding for the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission beyond April 2011 is subject to the next spending review.

Christmas Bonus: Advertising

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much his Department and its agencies have spent on informing the public of the extra one-off payment of £60 to Christmas bonus recipients; and in which publications and broadcasting outlets such advertisements have been placed;
	(2)  how much his Department and its agencies spent on placing the advertisement which appeared in the Sunday Times on 11 January 2009 relating to the one-off payment of £60 to Christmas bonus recipients; what other publications this advertisement was placed in; at what cost; and whether he approved the text in the advertisement.

Rosie Winterton: The advertising was booked and bought together to provide coverage across key media titles. The total media cost for the week's advertising was £75,110.92.
	The advert was placed in the following 19 daily and weekly titles:
	The Sun
	Daily Mirror
	Daily Star
	Daily Mail
	Daily Telegraph
	The Independent
	The Times
	Daily Express
	The Guardian
	The News of the World
	Sunday Mirror
	The People
	Daily Star Sunday
	Sunday Express
	Mail on Sunday
	Sunday Telegraph
	Independent on Sunday
	Sunday Times
	The Observer
	The advertising was undertaken to make pensioners, and their family and friends, aware of the additional Christmas bonus payment they will receive, announced in the Pre Budget Report on 24 November 2008.
	The advertising explained that the payment would be made separately from the usual Christmas bonus and could be received at any time between January and March. It aimed to ensure that pensioners understood what the payment was and when they would receive it; and thus also to limit calls to the Department's contact centres.
	The additional Christmas Bonus payment was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 2008 Pre-Budget Report as one means of providing short-term support to help vulnerable groups through the economic downturn. The words 'real help now' appear on all public facing communications designed to promote support for the public and business during the economic downturn.
	Given that some 15 million individuals will receive this additional payment advertising was deemed the most cost-effective way of communicating information to this group of our customers. The alternative way of reaching this group directly was through direct mail which would have been less efficient in this instance (estimated mailing costs to reach a group of this size are approximately £3.3 million).
	The advertising copy was approved by senior officials in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service. Ministers were informed of the planned activity.

Compensation

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many consolatory payments have been made by his Department with regard to the operation of his Department's  (a) debt management organisations and  (b) Recovery from Estates Debt Management Unit in each year since 1997 for which information is available.

Kitty Ussher: Information is available from April 2007 to date. We are not able to separate the data between payments made for debt management and recovery from estates. Information prior to this period is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost
	The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2007-08 91 
			 2008(1) 37 
			 (1) To January 2009

Departmental Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1613W, on departmental telephone services, how much revenue was generated by the 0845 numbers used by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies for public access services in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP and its executive agencies do not receive any revenue from incoming phone calls to 0845 numbers used for public access services.

Financial Services: Elderly

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how his Department plans to increase access for older people to information on financial matters;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to improve his Department's financial advice for older people;
	(3)  if his Department will provide support for voluntary sector initiatives which promote financial education amongst older people;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of whether improving financial literacy amongst older people would contribute to tackling poverty and promoting well-being under Public Service Agreement 17.

Rosie Winterton: The Department provides directly, or supports the provision of, information on financial matters through a range of initiatives. All of these benefit older people, and some are designed specifically for them. All of this activity contributes to the goal, encapsulated in PSA 17, to tackle poverty and promote greater independence and well-being in later life, although no quantitative assessment of the impact of financial literacy on these outcomes has been made.
	First, through the 'Now Let's Talk Money campaign', the Department has engaged with many partner organisations and forged links with over 4,000 intermediary organisations. One contract was awarded to encourage advice agencies and credit unions to target older people, whilst also encouraging older people to take up the advice which is available.
	The Department is also working closely with HM Treasury and the Financial Services Authority on the Money Guidance pathfinder that will launch later this spring in the north-west and north-east of England and will provide impartial financial guidance to up to 750,000 people in these regions. The guidance will be delivered by telephone, face to face, and on the internet. Face to face provision will be delivered by a range of partners, including third sector organisations.
	The pathfinder will be supported by The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS), an independent body that provides information and guidance across the full range of pensions issues. TPAS is funded by the Department. Its running costs are then recovered from the general levy on pensions schemes.
	Further information on pensions, and saving for later life will be provided through the comprehensive communication strategy that the Department is developing to support the introduction of pension reforms that will extend the opportunity of workplace pension saving to millions, many for the first time. This effort will draw on lessons learned from the Pensions Education Fund—a three-year UK-wide initiative using third sector organisations to test approaches, in a workplace setting, to provide information on saving for retirement. It involved a series of 26 pilot projects, 10 of which include older people aged 50 years or more in their target group.
	The Pension, Disability and Carers' Service provides older people with essential information on their entitlement to pensions and related benefits in later life. Its Local Service visits approximately 13,000 older customers each week, providing a holistic financial assessment and benefit service targeted at vulnerable older people. It delivers direct access and assistance to customers so that they receive benefits and services, promoting their independence and security. Information and guidance is also available through the Pension, Disability and Carers' Service contact centres and websites, on Directgov, and in leaflet form. Services on offer include the forecasting of state pension entitlement, based on an individual's contributions record, and the tracing of lost private pensions.

Funeral Payments

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many funeral payments were made in each year since 1997; what the average payment was in each year; and how much has been recovered from estates towards the repayment of such grants.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Funeral p ayments for Great Britain 
			   Number of awards ( t housand)  Average award (£)  Recoveries (£ million) 
			 1997-98 48 792 1.0 
			 1998-99 46 839 0.9 
			 1999-2000 44 866 0.8 
			 2000-01 40 892 0.7 
			 2001-02 42 912 0.6 
			 2002-03 45 929 1.1 
			 2003-04 46 1,019 1.2 
			 2004-05 44 1,051 1.4 
			 2005-06 42 1,081 1.3 
			 2006-07 41 1,117 1.0 
			 2007-08 40 1,162 0.7 
			  Note: Recoveries in each year represent the total recovered from estates in that year, not the total recovered from awards made in that year.  Source: Annual reports by the Secretary of State for social security/work and pensions on the social fund (with greater accuracy for recoveries than in the annual reports for the first three years obtained from the DWP social fund policy, budget and management information system).

Housing Benefit

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account his Department took of the requirements of section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 when deciding to post giro cheques for local housing allowance to tenants at multi-occupancy addresses; how many such giro cheques have been stolen; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: h olding answer  9 March 2009
	Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a duty on authorities, including local authorities, to consider the likely crime and disorder implications of the functions that they carry out.
	Local housing allowance is normally paid direct into bank accounts so the instances of issuing local housing allowance cheques should be minimal. Not being able to open a suitable bank account was accepted under the safeguards as grounds for reverting to payment of local housing allowance to the landlord, particularly in the case of people living in housing in multiple occupation.
	We do not collect any statistical information from local authorities specifically on instrument of payment fraud. However, the potential for fraud is expected to be very small given the drive for direct payment into bank accounts and the provisions of the safeguards which allow for reverting to payment of local housing allowance to the landlord in certain circumstances. We are closely monitoring how the scheme is working in practice and will undertake a review during the first two years of national operation.

Members: Correspondence

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central of 5 November 2008, regarding Brian Hold.

Jonathan R Shaw: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 27 November 2008.

Pensioners: Carer's Allowance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 43W, on carer's allowance, if he will estimate the cost of extending payment to all those of pension age assessed as eligible; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The increase in annual carer's allowance expenditure as a result of the extension described would be around £950 million.
	It should be noted that unless major changes to rules on how carer's allowance is treated within pension credit were to be introduced, the overall Exchequer cost of such a measure would be smaller due to the offsetting reduction in pension credit expenditure.
	 Notes:
	1. £950 million figure is the annual cost using 2008-09 benefit rates and August 2008 Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study data to produce a caseload estimate.
	2. The figure is rounded to the nearest £50 million.

Pensioners: Invalidity Benefits

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those receiving a state pension were sent an incorrect notification of their state pension entitlement for 2008-09 owing to an error in the calculation of invalidity addition.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 2 March 2009
	There was no error relating to the calculation of invalidity additions for entitlement to state pension for the year 2008-09. An error has occurred with regard to notifications of state pension entitlement for 2009-10. It is estimated that around 45,000 state pension customers may have received an incorrect notification. This is 0.29 per cent. of the total number of notifications.
	 Notes:
	1. This estimate includes customers living in Northern Ireland
	2. The total number of notifications issued this year was 15.3 million.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of  (a) imputing one pound per week of income from each £1,000 of capital for pensioner applicants for means-tested benefits and  (b) abolishing the imputation of income from capital for such applicants; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 January 2009
	In pension credit the first £6,000 of capital is fully disregarded (£10,000 for those in care homes). For each £500 (or part of £500) above this level we assume notional income at a rate of £1. There is no upper capital limit in pension credit.
	Receipt of the guarantee credit passports recipients onto full housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	In housing benefit and council tax benefit there is a capital limit of £16,000, which means that people with capital above this level will not normally qualify for benefit. Capital of £6,000 or less is ignored (£10,000 for those in care homes). For those customers who have reached the age to qualify for pension credit notional income is assumed on capital between £6,000 and £16,000 at a rate of £1 per week for each £500 or part of £500.
	The tariff income formula is not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing capital. It provides a simple method of calculating the weekly contribution that people with capital in excess of £6,000 (£10,000 for those in care homes) are expected to make from their resources to help meet their normal living costs.
	As there is no link with actual market rates, tariff income rules are not adjusted when interest rates change. If you were to calculate an implicit rate for pensioners, based on capital of £6,500 it would be 0.8 per cent.
	In answer to part  (a) of the question, abolishing the current capital disregard and assuming notional income at a rate of £1 for each £1,000 of capital or part of £1,000 for pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit would save the Exchequer approximately £70 million per year (2008-09 prices). However, pensioners with savings of less than £6,000 would be worse off. Removing the current disregards would mean that all those pensioners with modest savings, who currently have no income assumed from capital, would see their benefit reduced. Retaining the current disregards and calculating national income based on bands of £1,000 above the level of the disregard would cost the Exchequer approximately £170 million per year (2008-09).
	In answer to part  (b) abolishing the tariff income rules, but retaining the upper capital limits in housing benefit and council tax benefit, would cost approximately £550 million per year (2008-09 prices).
	 Note:
	These estimates have been calculated using the Policy Simulation Model (PSM) which uses data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). Estimates are subject to sampling and modelling uncertainty.

Redundancy: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been made redundant in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency in the last six months.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people have been made redundant in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland constituency in the last six months. (263801)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles labour market statistics for local areas from the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS), following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, these sources are not designed to estimate the number of redundancies over a six month period at the geographic levels requested.

Winter Fuel Payments

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department is conducting a review into how cold weather payments are calculated.

Kitty Ussher: The cold weather payment scheme is reviewed every year in the summer. The Met Office will consider all representations from Members of Parliament relating to the suitability of postcode to weather station links. Any changes are then made for the following winter. In addition to this, there has also been an internal review of these processes conducted by the Permanent Secretary of DWP.

Winter Fuel Payments: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much he expects to pay to pensioner households in West Lancashire constituency in winter fuel payments in 2008-09;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of households in West Lancashire constituency which will receive the  (a) £250 and  (b) £400 winter fuel payment in 2008-09.

Rosie Winterton: In winter 2006-07, the latest winter for which we have information, my Department made 11,720 winter fuel payments to households in the constituency of West Lancashire with a member aged 60-79; and 2,890 winter fuel payments to households in the constituency of West Lancashire with a member aged 80 or over. I expect similar numbers of winter fuel payments to be paid in 2008-09.
	Expenditure on winter fuel payments in the parliamentary constituency of West Lancashire in 2006-07 was £3.4 million. Actual expenditure data are not yet available for 2008-09 and forecasts of benefit expenditure are not produced below national level.
	 Notes
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	3. A small number of these households receive amounts higher than the usual rate for the household, where the household includes more than two individuals each entitled to payments at half of the usual household rate.
	 Source
	Information directorate 100 per cent data.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to announce decisions on bids for funding under the Buildings Schools for the Future programme made by local authorities in response to his Department's request for bids relating to proposed capital projects which could be brought forward to 2009-10.

Jim Knight: holding answer 13 March 2009
	We have not invited local authorities to bid to bring forward Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding, because the strategic planning that underpins BSF means it is not a suitable programme to act as a fiscal stimulus. BSF typically involves the building of entire new schools; so design and planning need care and time. Accelerating the construction would curtail this planning and would thereby jeopardise the quality and transformational nature of the programme. We are however working with partnerships for schools to simplify procedures and accelerate delivery, and the procurement process has already been accelerated and costs reduced.
	On 3 March, we announced allocations to authorities and schools of schools capital from other programmes brought forward from 2010-11 into 2009-10, to act as a fiscal stimulus and to bring investment benefits early to pupils and staff. Dorset was allocated advances totalling £12.0 million, of which £9.0 million is for the local authority, and £3.0 million for schools as an advance of devolved formula capital to be used by schools for their local priorities.

Building Schools for the Future

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local education authorities  (a) have commenced projects under the Building Schools for the Future programme,  (b) have been given approval for schemes but have yet to start and  (c) have not been given approval for schemes.

Jim Knight: The formal start of projects in BSF is the meeting between the local authority, DCSF and Partnerships for Schools (PfS) known as the remit meeting.
	Please see following list:
	 Local authorities which have commenced BSF projects
	Barking and Dagenham
	Barnsley
	Birmingham
	Blackburn
	Blackpool
	Bournemouth
	Bradford
	Bristol
	Cambridgeshire
	Camden
	Coventry
	Derby
	Derbyshire
	Doncaster
	Durham
	Ealing
	Enfield
	Essex
	Gateshead
	Greenwich
	Hackney
	Halton
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Haringey
	Hartlepool
	Hertfordshire
	Hillingdon
	Islington
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Kent
	Kingston-upon-Hull
	Knowsley
	Lambeth
	Lancashire
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lewisham
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Manchester
	Middlesbrough
	Newcastle
	Newham
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Lincolnshire
	North Tyneside
	Nottingham
	Nottinghamshire
	Oldham
	Poole
	Portsmouth
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Rochdale
	Rotherham
	Salford
	Sandwell
	Sheffield
	Solihull
	Somerset
	South Tyneside
	Southwark
	St. Helens
	Staffordshire
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Suffolk
	Sunderland
	Tameside
	Telford and Wrekin
	Tower Hamlets
	Waltham Forest
	Wandsworth
	Westminster
	Wolverhampton
	Worcestershire
	 Local authorities which have been given approval for schemes but which have yet to start
	Bedford
	Southampton
	Walsall
	Hounslow
	Kirklees
	Suffolk
	 Local authorities which have not yet been given approval for schemes to start
	Barnet
	Bath and North East Somerset
	Bexley
	Bolton
	Bracknell Forest
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Bromley
	Buckinghamshire
	Bury
	Calderdale
	Central Bedfordshire1
	Cheshire East1
	Cornwall
	Croydon
	Cumbria
	Darlington
	Devon
	Dorset
	Dudley
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	East Sussex
	Gloucestershire
	Hampshire
	Harrow
	Havering
	Herefordshire
	Isle of Wight
	Kingston upon Thames
	Leicestershire
	Lincolnshire
	Medway
	Merton
	Milton Keynes
	Norfolk
	North Somerset
	North Yorkshire
	Northamptonshire
	Northumberland
	Oxfordshire
	Peterborough
	Plymouth
	Reading
	Redbridge
	Richmond upon Thames
	Rutland
	Sefton
	Shropshire
	Slough
	South Gloucestershire
	Southend-on-Sea
	Stockport
	Surrey
	Sutton
	Swindon
	Thurrock
	Torbay
	Trafford
	Wakefield
	Warrington
	Warwickshire
	West Berkshire
	West Cheshire and Chester(1)
	West Sussex
	Wigan
	Wiltshire
	Windsor and Maidenhead
	Wirral
	Wokingham
	York
	(1 )Submitted an expression of interest in the BSF reprioritisation in advance of the boundary changes.
	 Notes:
	1. Authorities which have had their remit meeting are considered to have started projects.
	2. Authorities which are in included in Waves 1-6a of BSF but have not yet had their remit meeting are considered to have approval for schemes but have not yet started.
	3. The authorities that have not yet entered the programme are considered to not yet have approval.

Building Schools for the Future

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools in each local education authority area have been approved for funding for each wave of the Building Schools for the Future programme; how much has been allocated to each school; which company has been awarded each contract; and on what date each project  (a) was or  (b) will be completed.

Jim Knight: Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnerships for Schools, will write to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Building Schools for the Future

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the merits of  (a) refurbishment and  (b) rebuilding of schools; what estimate he has made of the amount of energy which will be consumed for completion of the rebuilding programme; and if he will make it his policy to publish statistics on the number of schools (i) refurbished and (ii) rebuilt under his Department's programmes.

Jim Knight: The comparative costs and merits of refurbishing and rebuilding schools vary from one school to another. Options, including refurbishment and rebuilding as appropriate, are appraised and compared locally, by or on behalf of local education authorities.
	The Department has not assessed the energy required for completion of the rebuilding programme. Refurbishment and rebuilding projects above a threshold are required to meet challenging targets based on a standard form of environmental assessment that takes into account construction methods.
	In the 2007 publication "Better Buildings, Better Design, Better Education", my Department provided information on numbers of schools rebuilt or improved in England since 1997, including 1,106 new schools and a further 27,000 new or improved classrooms. The information was derived from data received from local education authorities and we anticipate asking authorities for an update of the information later this year.

Building Schools for the Future

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local education authorities fall within the indicative prioritisation of first follow-on projects of the Building Schools for the Future programme; how much the bids submitted by each are; and on what date he plans to announce which authorities are to be given approval to proceed.

Jim Knight: 95 local authorities sent in revised expressions of interest for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme which include proposals for first follow-on projects. I am making the indicative BSF prioritisation lists available in the House Libraries—they were announced on 2 March 2009.
	Guidance to authorities on revising their expressions of interest included that follow-on projects should be up to £100 million in capital value, and Partnerships for Schools (PfS) provided a funding model to assist authorities. Details of projects, including capital value, will be appraised by PfS when it engages with authorities on their readiness to deliver.
	I have not set dates for announcing formal entry into the BSF programme. Before then, PfS will engage with authorities to discuss their readiness to deliver and then assess the evidence that they provide. We aim to ensure that projects which formally enter the programme are fully ready to deliver: taking time to get this right at this stage ensures good and timely delivery later on.
	I aim to bring all authorities into the programme as soon as is practicable, provided they are ready to deliver. Consideration will also be given to starting follow-on projects where this is appropriate in the interests of good overall programme management, for instance where an authority already in the programme needs to maintain momentum, or where larger authorities need to have a manageable flow of projects over the whole programme.

Children: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what guidance his Department gives to schools and colleges on ways to promote online safety and security as part of information technology classes;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of courses on information technology in schools and colleges in promoting the safe and secure use of the internet;
	(3)  what information school pupils are given as part of classes on information technology on measures to protect their computer systems from external threats.

Jim Knight: As the Government's lead agency for technology in schools, Becta have provided advice to schools and colleges on issues of e-safety since 1998. This advice enables schools to assess pupils within their normal local and national practices—key stage tests and examinations.
	The revised secondary curriculum level descriptors contain intrinsic references to e-safety in the ICT programme of study and there are also references in other curriculum areas, for example in Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE).
	Becta is working with the QCA and Sir Jim Rose to ensure that the primary curriculum adequately reflects the skills, knowledge and understanding that children need to develop to stay safe online.
	In addition, there are a number of freely available national resources for learners and teachers to develop skill and capability, for example, Childnet's know-it-all resources. The National Strategies have also recently developed new materials on e-safety; these materials have been distributed through local authorities and conferences and have been well received. The materials focus primarily on the more technical aspects of e-safety for example protecting data, understanding firewalls etc.
	Ofsted have recently published the School Self Evaluation—A Response to the Byron Review which made reference to schools having good acceptable use policies. It highlighted the need for schools to be better at evaluating the effectiveness of these policies. Becta recently published its revised advice in relation to acceptable use policies to support schools and other institutions where children have access to technology in developing and evaluating good policies and practices.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what date he received Lord Laming's report into safeguarding children.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 13 March 2009
	Lord Laming submitted his progress report on the protection of children in England to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on 10 March 2009.

Disadvantaged

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to assist small and medium-sized enterprises which work to improve the life prospects of disadvantaged young people over the age of 18.

Si�n Simon: I have been asked to reply.
	We recognise that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the third sector have a particular role as providers of learning to disadvantaged people, including disadvantaged young people.
	DIUS is currently developing a Department wide Third Sector Strategy which will address how we work with the third sector across the range of our policies and programmes. We aim to ensure we make best use of the potential of the third sector to contribute to meeting our skills agenda through its ability to engage with disadvantaged groups.
	To help ensure that the skills of people in the third sector are developed, DIUS, in conjunction with Office of the Third Sector, has supported the establishment of SkillsThird Sector, a new sector skills body. SkillsThird Sector will work with employers in the sector to identify and meet learning needs of the sector and work to increase take-up of training.
	DIUS is already supporting small and medium employers to meet the training needs of their staff in a range of ways:
	In the White Paper New OpportunitiesFair Chances for the Future the Government have outlined a commitment to ensure young people who are persistent NEETs (not in education, employment or training) have the right support and incentives to move off benefits, or out of inactivity, into education, training or work. Part of our offer includes initiatives we are supporting through small and medium employers, such as local employment partnerships and apprenticeships, which we have reformed and expanded.
	DIUS published Skills for Life: Changing Lives this month, which sets out our refreshed strategy for helping people at disadvantage through lack of basic skills. This strategy will ensure that SME employers and employees can access Skills for Life courses at all levels up to and including Level 2, and drive improvements in provision.
	Train to Gain is the Government's flagship service for employers, including SMEs. Train to Gain provides learning opportunities for all employees, including those disadvantaged in the workplace. Train to Gain is available to employees and volunteers in the third sector. The new package announced for SMEs in October 2008 includes additional flexibilities for SMEs including bite size learning and funding for learners who already have qualifications. From December 2008 the new flexibilities for SMEs were available to all paid employees in third sector SMEs.

Faith Schools: Finance

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much religious bodies have spent in capital expenditure on voluntary aided schools of a religious character in each of the last five financial years; and how much such bodies have received from public funds as a contribution to such expenditure  (a) up to and  (b) over 90 per cent. of the total expenditure.

Jim Knight: The information set out in the table shows the amount of grant payable to the governing bodies of those voluntary aided schools with a religious character. Although most capital expenditure at voluntary aided schools requires a 10 per cent. contribution from their governing bodies, we do not have information relating to any other contributions made either by governing bodies or from any other source.
	
		
			  000 
			   Amount paid up to 90 per cent.  Amount paid 90-100 per cent. 
			 2004-05 450,580 57,292 
			 2005-06 394,629 77,913 
			 2006-07 500,022 125,501 
			 2007-08 531,750 155,559 
			 2008-09 506,131 184967 
			 Total 2,383,112 601,232

Foreign Languages: GCE A-level

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils achieved an A level in a foreign language in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Number of A-level passes in modern foreign languages by 16-18 year-olds in all schools, 1999 to 2008 
			  Subject  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 French 16,371 14,060 14,148 13,214 12,637 12,298 11,802 12,063 12,028 12,605 
			 German 7,885 7,092 7,096 6,188 5,916 5,523 5,141 5,456 5,557 5,560 
			 Spanish 4,323 4,207 4,174 4,314 4,434 4,576 4,883 5,148 5,431 5,728 
			 Other modern languages 3,269 3,404 3,260 3,728 3,861 4,143 4,396 4,914 4,998 5,530 
			 All modern languages 31,848 28,763 28,678 27,444 26,848 26,540 26,222 27,581 28,014 29,423 
			  Note: Figures are derived from the Achievement and Attainment Tables data. 'Other Modern Languages' include Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dutch, Gujarati, Italian, Japanese, Panjabi, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish and Urdu

General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of schools had less than 30 per cent. of pupils obtaining five A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics in 2008, broken down by index of multiple deprivation decile.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Percentage of schools( 1,2 ) where fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils( 3)  achieved five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics by IMD decile( 4) , 2007-08( 5,6) 
			  IMD Decile( 4)  Percentage of schools where fewer than 30% of eligible pupils achieved 5+ A*-C at GCSE including English and Maths in 2007-08 
			 0-10(5) 36 
			 10-20 31 
			 20-30 23 
			 30-40 16 
			 40-50 14 
			 50-60 12 
			 60-70 7 
			 70-80 5 
			 80-90 5 
			 90-100(6) 2 
			 Total 15 
			 (1) Including only those maintained mainstream schools with results published in the 2008 Achievement and Attainment tables. (2) Including City Technology Colleges and Academies. Excludes closed schools. (3) Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. (4) 2007 Indices of Multiple Deprivation at Super Output Area level based on the location of the school. (5) Most deprived (6) Least deprived  Notes: Figures are based on revised data. Includes attempts and achievements in previous academic years.

Ofqual

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what dates he or his Departmental officials have met  (a) Ministers and officials of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,  (b) members of the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council and  (c) members of the Better Regulation Executive to assess the regulatory impact of the new qualifications regulator Ofqual; what data were considered on each occasion; and what conclusions were reached.

Jim Knight: Departmental officials met with members of the Better Regulation Executive to discuss the regulatory impact of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, of which the provisions establishing Ofqual are a part, on 29 September 2008. The Better Regulation Executive saw a draft of the impact assessment for the Bill on 18 December 2008. The Bill itself, including the final version of the impact assessment, received Cabinet clearance in the normal way. There is no requirement to refer impact assessments to the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council. The impact assessment was published immediately after the publication of the Bill.

Ofqual

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what dates his Department  (a) consulted and  (b) obtained information from awarding bodies to inform the impact assessment on Ofqual; and what representations were received from those bodies.

Jim Knight: The Department consulted widely on the proposals to establish a new regulator in December 2007 (Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment, DCSF/DIUS, Cm 7281). The consultation ended on 10 March 2008 and replies were received from a large number of awarding bodies, among others. A report summarising the outcome of that consultation exercise was published in June 2008 (Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessmentNext steps). Respondents were given a further opportunity to comment on the detail of Ofqual's enforcement powers in October 2008, and, again, a number of awarding bodies responded. My officials have had regular discussions with awarding bodies about a wide range of issues around the set-up of Ofqual and the Bill.

Parents: Training

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what training programmes are offered by the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners (NAPP); and how many people have undertaken training courses run by or on behalf of NAPP.

Beverley Hughes: The National Academy for Parenting Practitioners are offering training in a range of evidence-based training programmes, post training support for those delivering evidence-based training programmes and training in new QCF level 3 modular courses for practitioners unable to access the evidence-based training programme.
	To date, the academy have trained 842 practitioners in evidence-based programmes, and 316 practitioners have been trained on modular training courses. The academy are on course to train 3,400 practitioners in evidence-based parenting programmes by the end of March 2010.
	From April to December 2009, the academy will be offering a range of evidence-based training programmes including: Families and Schools Together (FAST); Family Links; Incredible Years; Mellow Parenting; Parenting Positively; Strengthening Families 10-14 (UK); Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities; and Triple P. However, the offer will be responsive to local demand and the academy has some flexibility to expand the range of programmes on offer.

Primary Education: Sutton

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department will require from the London Borough of Sutton to assess its need for emergency capital and revenue funding to meet an increase in demand for primary school places from 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not require additional information from Sutton but is awaiting the latest school census data to establish the latest trends in pupil numbers for all local authorities.
	At the beginning of the three-year spending review period 2008-09 to 2010-11, the Department allocated devolved capital funding to Sutton and other local authorities for the whole period, on the basis of forecasts local authorities supplied to the Department. All basic need resources designated for additional pupil places are allocated at the beginning of the period so that authorities can plan ahead and the Department does not hold back additional funding to meet unexpected changes in demand. Where an increase in demand does arise, local authorities are expected to use their other capital allocations to help meet any shortfall.
	We do not hold contingency revenue funding for additional primary school places. The organisation of a local authority's schools is for the authority to manage within the revenue and capital funding provided.
	School revenue funding to local authorities is based on actual pupil numbers recorded in the January school census. For 2009-10, a local authority's funding will be based on pupil numbers from January 2009. As a result, increases in pupil numbers up to that point, will be reflected in the authority's funding. If pupil numbers in a local authority's schools increase by more than 2.5 per cent. between January and the start of the academic year in the September following, the authority automatically receives additional funding for each pupil above the 2.5 per cent. threshold.
	The Department is working on means of taking account of projected demographic change in capital allocations for the year 2011-12 onwards.

Private Education: Greater London

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 11 October 2007,  Official Report, column 688W, on private education: Greater London, what the equivalent figures are for 2008.

Jim Knight: holding answer 13 March 2009
	 The requested information is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Independent schools( 1) : number and percentage of pupils aged 5 to 10 and 11 to 15( 2) ,( ) position in January 2008, each London borough 
			   Pupils aged 5 to 10  Pupils aged 11 to 15 
			   Number  Percentage( 3)  Number  Percentage( 3) 
			 England 198,480 5.6 233,710 7.4 
			 London 52,570 9.8 43,740 10.2 
			  
			  Inner London 26,800 13.4 20,020 13.9 
			 Camden 3,570 28.9 1,820 19.2 
			 City of London 410 69.4 1,110 100.0 
			 Hackney 3,470 20.7 1,470 16.4 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,180 22.9 2,180 27.6 
			 Haringey 840 4.9 980 8.0 
			 Islington 270 2.4 150 1.9 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,430 50.3 2,540 45.4 
			 Lambeth 930 5.7 430 4.7 
			 Lewisham 620 3.6 820 6.6 
			 New ham 340 1.5 320 1.7 
			 Southwark 1,430 7.7 2,330 15.8 
			 Tower Hamlets 230 1.4 780 5.6 
			 Wandsworth 4,390 25.0 2,380 19.4 
			 Westminster 2,680 24.1 2,720 27.8 
			  
			  Outer London 25,780 7.6 23,720 8.3 
			 Barking and Dagenham 60 0.4 10 0.1 
			 Barnet 2,320 10.2 2,470 12.7 
			 Bexley 520 3.1 0 0.0 
			 Brent 750 3.9 730 4.8 
			 Bromley 1,820 8.4 1,550 7.9 
			 Croydon 2,350 9.2 2,970 13.5 
			 Ealing 2,000 8.9 1,930 11.7 
			 Enfield 900 3.9 430 2.2 
			 Greenwich 1,140 6.6 1,030 7.8 
			 Harrow 1,370 8.7 2,160 16.5 
			 Havering 490 3.0 140 0.9 
			 Hillingdon 1,620 8.1 1,370 8.2 
			 Hounslow 640 4.2 300 2.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,310 12.8 1,540 17.0 
			 Merton 1,630 13.0 1,220 13.3 
			 Redbridge 2,150 10.2 830 4.8 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,410 24.6 3,620 34.0 
			 Sutton 820 6.6 510 3.7 
			 Waltham Forest 480 2.7 940 6.6 
			 (1) Excludes city technology colleges and academies. (2 )Age as at 31 August in previous year (start of academic year). (3 )Number of pupils in independent schools expressed as a percentage of number of pupils in same age group across all schools (excludes dually registered pupils).  Note: National and regional totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Schools: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment his Department has made of the merits to adding the two GCSE qualifications to its list of approved qualifications which it will fund maintained schools to deliver under section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: To be considered for funding in maintained schools under Section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, qualifications must first be accredited by Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator. International GCSEs (iGCSEs) have not been put forward for accreditation by either of the two awarding bodies which offer them, Edexel and Cambridge International Examinations. A number of Cambridge International Certificates, which are similar to iGCSEs, have however recently been accredited by Ofqual and submitted to my right hon. Friend for approval under Section 96. A decision will be made shortly.

Schools: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools with 30 per cent. or more of pupils eligible for free school meals ran a budget surplus in the last year for which data are available; and how much the surplus was in each case.

Jim Knight: The table to be placed in the House Libraries sets out the value of the budget surplus as at 31 March 2008, for those schools with more than 30 per cent. of their children known to be eligible for free school meals. Balances for all schools in England for the financial year 2007-08 were published on 24 February 2009 and I made a statement to the house on the same day. The full data are available at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000834/index.shtml.

Schools: Hearing Impaired

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans his Department has to introduce pre-completion testing for acoustic conditions in schools that are required to comply with Building Bulletin 93.

Jim Knight: Building Bulletin 93 Acoustic Design of Schools states:
	To ensure that the performance standards are met, it is recommended that the client should include a requirement for acoustic testing in the building contract.
	Testing is not however required for compliance with Part E of the Building Regulations.
	For Building Schools for the Future Projects, Partnerships for Schools have included a clause in their Facilities and Services Output Specification, November 2008(1) which is currently out for consultation. This states:
	The contractor will complete a set of calculations to indicate compliance with BB93. Testing and remediation will be carried out to prove compliance.
	In the current review of Building Bulletin 93, we are considering the possibility of strengthening the recommendation that all schools should be subjected to pre-completion testing.
	(1) The PfS Facilities and Services Output Specification can be downloaded from:
	http://www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk,/library/bsf_standard_docs.jsp#OutputSpecification

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms his Department uses to assess the overall quality of school provision in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Ofsted assesses the overall quality of school provision at local authority area level. Until 2008 it has done this within an annual performance assessment (APA) of children's services for each local authority, which includes a judgment on services for enjoying and achieving. From April 2009, APAs will be replaced by the new comprehensive area assessment (CAA), which will assess overall public services at local authority level. Ofsted will produce an annual rating for local authority children's services. This rating, drawing on inspection judgments and performance data on schools in the area, as well as on evidence on other local authority children's services, will be included in the CAA report.

Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1298-1300W, how many grants his Department has administered in Sefton in each year since 1995.

Jim Knight: The tables showing the grants allocated by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to Sefton for each year since 1995-96, broken down between revenue and capital funding, will be placed in the House Libraries.
	The revenue grant totals for 2006-07 onwards are not comparable with figures in 2005-06 and before, because the introduction of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded for Education Services.
	Before 2006-07 local authorities were funded through Education Formula Spending (EFS). This formed part of the annual Local Government Finance Settlement. EFS comprised school functions and local education authority (LEA) central functions, whereas DSG only covers the school functions. The DSG is based on each local authority's spend on schools in 2005-06, uprated each year for cost pressures and adjusted for changes in pupil numbers. LEA central functions are still funded through the Local Government Finance Settlement but cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable. For information, the EFS figures for Sefton for 1997-98 to 2005-06 were:
	
		
			million (cash) 
			 1997-98 106.7 
			 1998-99 116.5 
			 1999-2000 122.2 
			 2000-01 128.2 
			 2001-02 132 
			 2002-03 129.6 
			 2003-04 139.6 
			 2004-05 145.5 
			 2005-06 151.2 
			  Notes: 1. Equivalent data are not available prior to 1997-98. 2. Before 2003-04, called Education Standard Spending (ESS). 3. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of ESS/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC. 4. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an authority, related funding no longer appears in the series. 
		
	
	The Reducing Class Size revenue grants and the Nursery Education Grant were transferred to Education Formula Spending in 2003-04.
	The Teachers Threshold and Performance Pay Grant was transferred to Dedicated Schools Grant in 2006-07.
	Children's Services grant transferred to the Formula Grant paid by the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2008-09.
	Capital figures include supported borrowing allocations. Allocations for targeted capital projects are shown in the year the project started.
	The tables do not include children social care services grants before 2004-05 as responsibility for children social care services was transferred to this Department, from the Department of Health, in 2004-05.
	The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) were established under Machinery of Government changes on 28 June 2007. The response only covers those areas of responsibility for children and schools held by their predecessor the Department for Education and Skills and the DCSF.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1317W, on special educational needs, which 10 non-maintained special schools had 100 or more pupils.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Non-maintained special schools with 100 or more pupils( 1) , position as at January 2008, England 
			  LA number  LA name  School name 
			 869 West Berkshire Mary Hare Grammar School 
			 936 Surrey National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy, St. Piers School 
			 392 North Tyneside Percy Hedley School 
			 886 Kent Royal School for Deaf Children and Westgate College for Deaf People 
			 878 Devon West of England School 
			 846 Brighton and Hove St. John's School, Brighton 
			 845 East Sussex St. Mary's Wrestwood Children's Trust 
			 850 Hampshire Treloar School 
			 831 Derby Royal School for the Deaf, Derby 
			 344 Wirral West Kirby Residential School 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils.  Source: School Census.

Teachers: Recruitment

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when he expects the first teachers in his proposed fast-track route for career switchers as referred to on page 36 of Working together: public services on your side to begin their employment in schools;
	(2)  how many teachers he expects to be recruited under his proposed fast-track route for career switchers as referred to on page 36 of Working together: public services on your side.

Jim Knight: The details are still to be finalised but we anticipate that the first participants will be recruited and training in schools within the next year.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Charities: Finance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of their funding charities need to receive from non-governmental sources in order to be designated as independent.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated March 2009:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on the proportion of its income a charity can derive from the state whilst maintaining its independence.
	As the regulator, we see independence as key to charitable status. All charities must be independent of government and other funders, and the trustees of a charity are bound to act solely in the interests of the charity and its beneficiaries, complying with charity law and the requirements of the charity's governing document. It is for the trustees alone to decide on the most appropriate sources of funding for their charity, and this can include funding mainly or wholly provided by a public body. Where a charity receives funding from a public body the trustees must be satisfied that this does not impede the charity's independence. We produce guidance for charity trustees on this subject and I have arranged for copies of:
	CC37: Charities and public service delivery; and
	RR7: Charities and independence from the state;
	to be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	If you would like to discuss this issue further I would be very happy to arrange a meeting for you with some of our senior staff who lead on this area of our work.
	I hope this is helpful.

Civil Servants: Vacancies

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what job vacancies have been advertised on the  (a) public version and  (b) Civil Service-only version of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway in the last 12 months; and what the (i) job specification, (ii) job title, (iii) sponsoring body and (iv) salary range of the position advertised was in each case;
	(2)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1184W, on civil servants: vacancies, what criteria are used to decide whether a vacancy is advertised on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway or on the staff-only section;
	(3)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1184W, on civil servants: vacancies, whether an equality impact assessment has been made of the criteria used to decide whether a vacancy is advertised on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway or the staff-only section;
	(4)  what procedures govern the advertisement of vacancies by  (a) Government Departments,  (b) Executive agencies and  (c) non-departmental public bodies on the (i) publicly accessible and (ii) internal parts of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway;
	(5)  what the Civil Service policy is on advertising Civil Service vacancies on the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway;
	(6)  pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 202, on public information, what progress has been made on improving access to vacancies for Civil Service jobs;
	(7)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1184W, on civil servants: vacancies, how many of the jobs advertised on the staff-only part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway were subsequently advertised on the public part of the site.

Tom Watson: There is no policy requirement for Government Departments and Executive agencies to advertise their vacancies on the Recruitment Gateway. However, the expectation is that all civil service jobs should be advertised on the Gateway.
	Government Departments and Executive agencies have delegated responsibility for recruitment advertising. Each Department determines its own policies on where they advertise their vacancies and have responsibility for assessing the equality impact of those policies.
	Civil service vacancies are advertised internally first to surplus staff facing redundancy, in line with the Protocol on Handling Surplus Staff, which came into effect on 1 April 2008. The civil service redeployment policy is comparable to the policies of other companies and organisations in handling surplus staff.
	The Civil Service Recruitment Gateway has published a total of 8,456 vacancies in the past 12 months, of which, 4,474 were advertised to the general public and 3,982 within the civil service. Providing answers to the specific queries relating to each post and whether internal vacancies were subsequently advertised to the public can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	On 25 February a new Jobs Online site went live in Beta, which replaces the former Recruitment Gateway. This provides for external civil service jobs to be available in the one place and in a single format, easily accessible to jobseekers. As we develop the site, other organisations will all be able to link to the site and jobseekers will be able to quickly find individual jobs using search engines.

Civil Service Agencies: Expenditure

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent by executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies in  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: Information on total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies is published in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies. Copies of Public Bodies are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Information is not held centrally on expenditure by executive agencies. This information is published in departmental annual reports or in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

Departmental Data Protection

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what period of time elapses before his Department's electronic records are  (a) archived and  (b) destroyed; and what percentage of such records created in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008 have been destroyed.

Tom Watson: Cabinet Office records are maintained in an electronic records management system and will either be (i) transferred to The National Archives in line with our statutory obligations, or (ii) deleted from the system in accordance with disposal and retention schedules currently being developed. No formal records were deleted in 2007 and 2008 although duplicates and user training examples were routinely removed.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what property has been lost or stolen from the Cabinet Office in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 715-6W, to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes).
	The estimated cost associated with items reported lost or stolen is 15,000.

Departmental Standards

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 475W, on departmental standards, what steps  (a) his Department and  (b) 10 Downing Street is taking to reduce levels of avoidable contact with members of the public.

Tom Watson: The role of the Cabinet Office is to coordinate and monitor the work of departments in reducing avoidable contact associated with the delivery of their services to citizens and businesses.

Departmental Training

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Cabinet Office has provided voice coaching to any of its employees in the last 12 months.

Tom Watson: Voice coaching is not a category recognised in Cabinet Office management information systems.

Government Departments: Petitions

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to ensure Government departments respond to petitions in the same manner required of local authorities under the provisions of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill if enacted.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given in the other place to the noble Lord Greaves on 5 March 2009,  Official Report,  House of Lords, columns WA 182-3.

Infant Mortality

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) stillbirths and  (b) neonatal deaths there were in each primary care trust area in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) stillbirths and (b) neonatal deaths there were in each primary care trust area in each of the last five years. (263572)
	In England there are 147 primary care trusts, four care trusts and one care trust plus. Together they are referred to as primary care organisations (PCOs). Figures have been provided for all 152 primary care organisations.
	The number of (a) stillbirths and (b) neonatal deaths by each primary care organisation that were registered in each of the last five years, 2003 to 2007 (the most recent year for which figures are available) is given in the tables. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Infant Mortality

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the infant mortality rate in babies born to mothers  (a) under 14,  (b) under 16,  (c) under 21,  (d) under 30 and  (e) over 30 years was in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the infant mortality rate in babies born to mothers (a) under 14, (b) under 16, (c) under 21, (d) under 30 and (e) over 30 years of age in each of the last five years is. (263577)
	The infant mortality rate in babies born to mothers (a) under 14, (b) under 16, (c) under 21, (d) under 30 and (e) 30 years of age and over in each of the last five years, 2003 to 2007 (the most recent year for which figures are available) is given in the attached table.
	
		
			  Infant mortality rate in babies born to mothers (a) under 14, (b) under 16, (c) under 21, (d) under 30 and (e) 30 years of age and over, England and Wales, 2003-07( 1) 
			   Age of mother 
			   Under 14  Under 16  Under 21  Under 30  30 and over  All ages 
			 2003 (2) 8.0 7.3 5.8 4.6 5.2 
			 2004 (2) 13.1 7.2 5.3 4.5 4.9 
			 2005 (2) 13.5 6.4 5.5 4.4 5.0 
			 2006 (2) 8.1 6.4 54 4.3 4.9 
			 2007(1) (2) 6.2 6.9 5.0 4.2 4.6 
			 (1) Data for 2007 are provisional. (2) Rates based on less than three events have been suppressed to protect confidentiality of individuals.

Lung Cancer: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency were diagnosed with lung cancer in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland had been diagnosed with lung cancer in each of the last five years.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2006. Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer in each calendar year since 2002 for people in (a) Cumbria county and (b) Copeland local authority are in Table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1. Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer( 1) , persons, Cumbria county and Copeland local authority, 2002 to 2006 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Cumbria 334 351 315 351 347 
			 Copeland 36 52 41 45 48 
			 (1) Lung cancer is coded to C34 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).  Source: Office for National Statistics

National Enterprise Academy

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements the Cabinet Office has put in place for people in Oxfordshire to access the National Enterprise Academy.

Si�n Simon: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Enterprise Academy is one of the newest of a growing network of National Skills Academies, which enable employers to take control of the design and delivery of learning in their sector. The NSA plan to transform enterprise education and training for young people.
	The National Enterprise Academy was approved to enter the National Skills Academy business planning process in October 2008. The Learning and Skills Council expect to receive a business plan for appraisal within the next few months. Subject to approval, initial plans are to establish the National Centre and regional hub for the South East in Buckinghamshire with effect from September 2009. The academy will then develop a further nine regional hubs across England by March 2012, making provision available to students across their region.

Unemployment: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate his Department made of the number of people registered as unemployed in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency who were parents returning to work after caring for children in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the number of people registered as unemployed in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland constituency who were parents returning to work after raising a family, in each of the last five years. (263790)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics on registered unemployment from the count of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance. However, this source does not hold information on whether claimants were raising a family prior to claiming.

Unemployment: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people registered as unemployed in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency had been out of work for 12 months or more in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many people under the age of 21 were registered as unemployed in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland constituency in each of the last five years (263793); and how many registered unemployed people in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland constituency had been out of work for 12 months or more in each of the last five years. (263796)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics on registered unemployed from the count of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). However, statistics are not available for persons under the age of 21. As an alternative, Table 1 shows the number of persons claiming JSA under the age of 20 resident in Copeland constituency and Cumbria.
	Table 2 shows the number of persons claiming JSA for more than 12 months resident in Copeland and Cumbria.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available of the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of persons aged under 20 claiming jobseeker's allowance resident in Copeland constituency and Cumbria 
			  As at January each year  Copeland  Cumbria 
			 2004 192 800 
			 2005 185 729 
			 2006 173 815 
			 2007 181 797 
			 2008 180 703 
			 2009 177 900 
			  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Number of persons claiming jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months resident in Copeland constituency and Cumbria 
			  As at January each year  Copeland  Cumbria 
			 2004 185 674 
			 2005 207 595 
			 2006 224 782 
			 2007 236 918 
			 2008 125 469 
			 2009 114 485 
			  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system

Voluntary Organisations: Bank Services

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate his Department has made of the funds deposited in Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander bank by each third sector organisation with funds invested in the bank which is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 5 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 492-3W, to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude). The Department is working with partners in the third sector to understand the impact of the administration process of Kaupthing, Singer Friedlander on third sector organisations.

Voluntary Work

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the number of people who have volunteered in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Data from the Government's Citizenship Survey estimates that the following numbers of adults aged 16 and above volunteered at least once in the previous 12 months:
	
		
			  Formal volunteering 
			   Number 
			 2003 16,953,000 
			 2005 17,980,000 
			 2007-08 17,704,000

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Education

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of age discrimination legislation on the numbers of people from each age group taking part in adult education courses.

Si�n Simon: Adult learning is crucial in helping people to fulfil themselves as active citizens and as members of their families and communities. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, whatever their age or background, can lead healthy and fulfilling lives by participating fully in work, education and society as a whole. Building on the findings of our recent consultation, we are now working with partners to develop our strategy for Informal Adult Learning in the 21st century, which we shall publish shortly.
	The Department does not routinely monitor or enforce the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and has no express remit to do so. The regulations apply to providers and they must make decisions based on their own circumstances, the courses they run and their own legal advice. Ultimately, interpretation and enforcement will be for the courts to decide. Detailed guidance for the benefit of providers and learners alike is set out on the website of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	I am aware that a number of providers, including further education colleges and local authorities, have been withdrawing fee concessions for older learners in the belief that the Regulations prohibit such positive action. The guidance makes clear that age-related practices like fee concessions may be objectively justified where they are a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim and it will continue to be the learning provider's decision as to whether or not they wish to offer these subsidies to individuals. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 990W.

Adult Education: Public Consultation

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department, its predecessor and agencies have spent on the Impact of Skills for Life Learning Evaluation: Longitudinal Survey of Learners to date.

Si�n Simon: The Department and its predecessor has spent, in total to date, 1,853,097 on the evaluation of the Impact of Skills for Life Learning initiative.

Animal Experiments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funding his Department has provided for the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in each year since its creation; what funding he has allocated to the NC3Rs for each of the next two years; what recent discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials in his Department have had with the NC3Rs on funding levels; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Government established the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in 2004 for research into alternatives to the use of animals in research. The NC3Rs receives funding from the Department through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Since its launch, the MRC and BBSRC have provided the NC3RS with 661,000 in 2004/05, 667,000 in 2005/06, 1,829,000 in 2006/07 and 2,368,000 in 2007/08. The two research councils have allocated the NC3Rs 3,468,000 in 2008/09, 4,268,000 in 2009/10 and 5,068,000 in 2010/11. The Secretary of State, other DIUS Ministers and DIUS officials have not held any recent discussions with the NC3Rs regarding funding levels. Future funding for the NC3Rs will be discussed in the context of the next spending review.

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer of 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 392W, on apprentices, what progress has been made on the establishment of apprenticeships in his Department; and how many apprentices his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available.

Si�n Simon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 741W.

Apprentices

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which 10  (a) companies and  (b) trades have provided the largest number of apprenticeships in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 3 February 2009
	Table 1 shows the 10 sector frameworks that have provided the largest number of apprenticeships in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08. This information was published in supplementary tables that accompanied the post-16 education statistical first release on 18 December 2008.
	Information about companies providing apprenticeships is not currently available.
	
		
			  Top  10  sector frameworks that provided the largest number of apprenticeship starts 
			  2005/06 
			   Apprenticeship starts 
			 Customer service 15,700 
			 Construction 15,500 
			 Hospitality and catering 15,300 
			 Business administration 15,100 
			 Hairdressing 14,900 
			 Children's care learning and development 12,300 
			 Engineering 11,500 
			 Health and social care 8,200 
			 Retail 7,300 
			 Vehicle maintenance and repair 6,700 
		
	
	
		
			  2006/07 
			   Apprenticeship starts 
			 Construction 20,700 
			 Hairdressing 17,000 
			 Business administration 15,500 
			 Customer service 15,200 
			 Children's care learning and development 13,200 
			 Hospitality and catering 13,200 
			 Engineering 11,600 
			 Vehicle maintenance and repair 8,800 
			 Retail 8,100 
			 Health and social are 7,400 
		
	
	
		
			  2007/08 
			   Apprenticeship starts 
			 Customer service 21,000 
			 Construction 20,400 
			 Business administration 18,100 
			 Hairdressing 16,500 
			 Children's care learning and development 15,300 
			 Hospitality and catering 14,900 
			 Engineering 13,900 
			 Health and social care 12,500 
			 Vehicle maintenance and repair 12,500 
			 Retail 11,800 
			  Notes:  1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. This table uses programme starts as a measure for comparative purposes. Full-year numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during the year. Learners starting more than one course will appear more than once. 3. Programme-Led Apprenticeships recorded in WBL ILR returns are included in the above figures.  Source: Work based Learning Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Apprentices

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprenticeships have been  (a) advertised and  (b) filled through the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service in 2009 to date.

Si�n Simon: The National Apprenticeships Vacancy Matching Service has been developed to provide a high quality service to employers wishing to recruit apprentices, and to young people and adults considering an apprenticeship. This service will help deliver the objective outlined in world-class apprenticeships to expand and improve the quality of our Apprenticeships programme. On the 4 March 2009, 3,755 vacancies were live on the system. In these early weeks since the system went live on the 12 January 2009, we have had confirmation from employers that 22 vacancies have already been filled via this service. Interest from individuals is high and since the national launch of the online vacancy matching system 26,035 people have registered as candidates to use the system. The system is not due to be fully open until 1 April.

Apprentices: Greater Manchester

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adult apprentices there are in each of the 10 local authority areas which make up the Greater Manchester area.

Si�n Simon: The following table shows the number of apprentice starts and completions in 2007/08 in the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, broken down by age.
	
		
			  Apprenticeship starts and completions in 2007/08, in the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities by age 
			   Starts  Completions 
			  Local authority  under 19  19+  Total  under 19  19+  Total 
			 Manchester 650 770 1,420 350 340 690 
			 Bolton 890 740 1,630 520 350 860 
			 Bury 410 470 880 240 220 460 
			 Oldham 610 470 1,080 430 270 700 
			 Rochdale 520 510 1,040 310 290 590 
			 Salford 620 470 1,090 370 240 610 
			 Stockport 640 550 1,190 440 310 750 
			 Tameside 680 530 1,210 380 240 620 
			 Trafford 460 410 870 260 190 440 
			 Wigan 1,090 950 2,040 570 380 950 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Totals are based on unrounded figures, so may not equal the sum of figures shown. 3. Local authority is based on home postcode of the learner.  Source: WBL ILR

Apprentices: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which  (a) companies and  (b) industrial trades have provided the largest number of apprenticeships in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008 in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Si�n Simon: The following table shows the 10 sector frameworks that have provided the largest number of apprenticeship starts in each academic year, from 2005/06 to 2007/08, for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.
	Information about companies providing apprenticeships is not currently available.
	
		
			  Top 10 apprenticeship frameworks that provided the largest number of starts Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency 
			   Framework  Number of starts 
			   2005/06  
			 1 Business Administration 60 
			 2 Construction 60 
			 3 Children's Care Learning and Development 50 
			 4 Retail 40 
			 5 Hairdressing 30 
			 6 Customer Service 30 
			 7 Engineering 30 
			 8 Health and Social Care 30 
			 9 Hospitality and Catering 20 
			 10 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 20 
			
			   2006/07  
			 1 Business Administration 70 
			 2 Construction 70 
			 3 Engineering 60 
			 4 Children's Care Learning and Development 50 
			 5 Hairdressing 50 
			 6 Customer Service 40 
			 7 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 30 
			 8 Health and Social Care 20 
			 9 Plumbing 20 
			 10 Retail 20 
			
			   2007-08  
			 1 Business Administration 70 
			 2 Construction 70 
			 3 Health and Social Care 60 
			 4 Hairdressing 50 
			 5 Children's Care Learning and Development 50 
			 6 Customer Service 40 
			 7 Engineering 30 
			 8 Retail 30 
			 9 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 30 
			 10 Plumbing 20 
			  Notes: 1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures in table include Work Based Learning (WBL) (apprenticeships only). 3. Programme-Led apprenticeships recorded in WBL ILR returns are included in the above figures. 4. Parliamentary constituency is based upon the home postcode of the learner. 5. This table uses programme starts as a measure for comparative purposes. Full-year numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during the year. Learners starting more than one course will appear more than once.  Source: Work Based Learning (WBL) Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Education: Offenders

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Offender Learning and Skills Service has spent on training opportunities available in  (a) probation centres and  (b) other institutions in each year for which figures are available; and how much it plans to spend in each of the next two years.

Si�n Simon: The Offender Learning and Skills Service was introduced across England from August 2006, part way through the 2006/07 financial year. In financial year 2006-07 and 2007-08 the Offender Learning and Skills Service budget for offenders in the community was 9.5 million and 9.2 million respectively, resources flowing from the previous spending round focused on enhancing the delivery of Skills for Life to offenders in the community. From the start of the 2008-09 financial year, the learning needs of offenders in the community have been met from the Learning and Skills Council's mainstream learning budgets.
	It is not possible to determine what proportion of this budget was spent in probation centres and what proportion elsewhere.
	The Offender Learning and Skills Service budget in 2006-07 for delivery to young offenders aged 17 and under and for adult prisoners was 98.4 million, in 2007-08 the equivalent budget was 155.4 million and in 2008-09 was 161.7 million. This Department's planned expenditure through the Offender Learning and Skills Service for 2009-10 is 132.3 million.
	This figure does not include funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families in respect of young offenders aged 17 and under, and will be subject to additional allocations for learning delivery resulting from the Ministry of Justice's expansion of prison places.

Education: Offenders

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many learner places were funded by the Offender Learning and Skills Service in  (a) probation centres and  (b) other institutions in each year for which figures are available.

Si�n Simon: The Offender Learning and Skills Service was introduced across England from the start of the 2006/07 academic year.
	The Offender Learning and Skills Service is focused on learners in prison. We had an additional budget of 9.5 million in 2006-07 and 9.2 million in 2007-08 to boost participation for offenders serving community sentences, mostly for Skills for Life. But as this was mainstream learning we have no data on the number of enrolments by offenders in the community, either in probation centres or in mainstream learning.
	The Offender Learning and Skills Service funded a total of 240,045 enrolments in 2006/07 and 299,939 in 2007/08 in prisons and young offender institutions.

Further Education: Finance

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will take steps to ensure the continuation of the capital funding programme for further education colleges.

Si�n Simon: Since 1997 more than 2 billion has been invested in modernising further education facilities and we will spend another 2.3 billion in the current spending review period.
	This Government have already confirmed their intention that the current Further education capital programme will continue after 2010-11 under the management of the new Skills Funding Agency. The amount of funding available will depend upon the outcome of Government's next spending review.

Higher Education: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of young people living in Enfield North constituency entered  (a) higher education and  (b) university in each of the last 11 years.

David Lammy: It is not possible to identify young people from Enfield, North who did not enter HE, therefore the percentage of young people from Enfield, North who entered HE cannot be calculated.
	The number of young undergraduate entrants from Enfield, North is shown as an alternative. Figures for the 2008/09 academic year will be available in January 2010.
	
		
			  Young( 1)  undergraduate entrants( 2)  from Enfield, North parliamentary constituency( 3)  by institution type UK higher education institutions( 4) academic years 1997/98 to 2007/08 
			  Academic year  All HEIs( 5)  Of which: Universities( 6) 
			 1997/98 305 280 
			 1998/99 305 280 
			 1999/2000 330 295 
			 2000/01 365 325 
			 2001/02 375 345 
			 2002/03 435 400 
			 2003/04 430 390 
			 2004/05 515 490 
			 2005/06 550 510 
			 2006/07 545 515 
			 2007/08 550 515 
			 (1) Young refers to undergraduates aged under 21. (2) Covers entrants to both full-time and part-time undergraduate courses. (3) Parliamentary constituency is defined by full and valid home postcodes. (4) Excludes the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants over the time series. (5) All HEIs includes pre and post 1992 universities, HE colleges and independent HEIs. (6) Universities include both pre and post 1992 universities.  Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Overseas Students

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of the annual income of each university in England came from foreign students in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: Information on course fees paid by non-EU domiciled students is shown in the tables, which will be placed in the House Libraries. This is the only centrally-held information available regarding institutions' income from foreign students. This is shown as a proportion of the total income of each higher education institution in England. Figures for the 1997/98 academic year are not available.
	The increase in non-EU student recruitment in the last 10 years demonstrates the growing international reputation of UK universities and should be welcomed. It is important to stress that this growth has not been at the expense of UK students. Non-EU students attract no HEFCE funding and do not have access to the student finance package.

Students: Loans

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Student Loans Company in reclaiming student loans from EU students who studied in the UK.

David Lammy: Tuition fee loans have been available for EU students since 2006/07. The majority of these students will commence their repayments from April 2010, provided that their income is above the appropriate threshold. The SLC is putting new systems in place from July 2009 in plenty of time to collect those repayments.
	A small number of EU students who dropped out or took short courses are eligible to repay now. SLC has set up a special team to follow up these early repayers, and is in the process of taking nine borrowers to court.
	The overwhelming majority of overseas borrowers are honest and want to repay the loans they have received. We are determined, though, that taxpayers' money will be repaid, and the SLC will be vigorous in pursuing those who try to dodge the system.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many full-time undergraduates received  (a) a maintenance loan and  (b) a tuition fee loan in each year since 2001.

David Lammy: The number of full-time undergraduate English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England who took out a maintenance loan and a tuition fee loan are shown in table 4A and table 4B respectively of the Statistical First Release on Student Support for Higher Education in England, Academic Year 2008/09 (provisional). The SFR is accessible at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000824/index.shtml
	Amended tables are shown as follows for ease of use. Tuition fee loans were introduced in September 2006 thus figures are given for the period since then.
	
		
			  Table 4A : Estimated eligibility and take-up of maintenance loans in England( 1) academic years 2001/02 to 2008/09 (provisional) 
			  Academic year  Number of loans taken out (thousand)( 2) 
			 2001/02 629 
			 2002/03 666 
			 2003/04 682 
			 2004/05 693.1 
			 2005/06 719.1 
			   
			 2006/07 728.1 
			 2007/08 (provisional)(3) 746.2 
			 2008/09 (provisional)(3,)( )(4) 714.3 
			 (1) Student loans are available to eligible students normally domiciled in the United Kingdom. (2) Rounded to the nearest 10. (3) The number of loans taken out for 2008/09 is based on the number of loans approved as at 5 November 2008. (4) The numbers will increase as late applications come in and this may change the average value of loan.  Source: Student Loans Company Ltd. (SLC); DIUS 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4B : Take-up of tuition fee loans in England( 1,2) academic years 2006/07 through 2008/09 (provisional) 
			  Academic year  Number of loans taken out (thousand)( 4) 
			  Students entering HE prior to 2006/07( 3)  
			 2006/07 157.9 
			 2007/08 (provisional) 99.1 
			 2008/09 (provisional)(5) 31.2 
			   
			  Students entering HE from 2006/07( 6)  
			 2006/07 239.4 
			 2007/08 (provisional) 454.5 
			 2008/09 (provisional)(5) 682.5 
			 (1) Tuition fee loans are provided by DIUS via the Student Loans Company to students normally domiciled in England who attend an HE course anywhere in the United Kingdom as well as to students from the European Union attending HE courses in England. (2) Students entering HE from 2006/07 can take out a Tuition Fee loan to cover all or part of the variable fee charged by their HEI. (3) Students entering HE prior to 2006/07 can take out a Tuition Fee loan to cover their private contribution to fees if they make any. (4) The number of loans taken out for 2008/09 is based on the number of loans approved as at 16 November 20008. The numbers will increase as late applications come in and this may change the average value of loan. (5) The Tuition Fee loans for 2008/09 will be incurred by students at the point of payment to their HE institution. 50 per cent. will be paid in February 2009. 50 per cent. will be paid in May 2009. (6) The figures for EU students are released early in the application process. Hence, these provisional figures are significantly lower than the likely final outturn.  Note: Rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Student Loans Company Ltd. (SLC)

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  if he will review the interest rate charged on mortgage-style student loans in order to reduce the level of interest payments;
	(2)  what the interest rate on mortgage-style student loans has been in each year since 1998.

David Lammy: The interest rate to be charged on mortgage-style student loans is set out in the Education (Student Loans) Act 1990 and the Education (Student Loans) Regulations 1998, which provide for a link to the retail price index (RPI). Specifically, the interest rate for an academic year is the annual movement in the RPI for the year to the previous March. Thus, the interest rate of 3.8 per cent. for the 2008/09 academic year reflects movements in the RPI for the year to March 2008.
	The interest rate for the 2009/10 academic year, starting in September 2009, will reflect the RPI for the year to March 2009. Consistent application of the RPI meets the intention that, in fairness both to the borrower and to the taxpayer, over the lifetime of the loan, the borrower will repay in real terms no more than was borrowed.
	The interest rates applicable to mortgage-style loans for each academic year since 1998 are as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 1998 3.5 
			 1999 2.1 
			 2000 2.6 
			 2001 2.3 
			 2002 1.3 
			 2003 3.1 
			 2004 2.6 
			 2005 3.2 
			 2006 2.4 
			 2007 4.8 
			 2008 3.8

Students: Loans

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many former students have  (a) mortgage-style repayment student loans and  (b) income-related repayment student loans; and how many such repayments (i) are and (ii) are not being made on schedule in each case.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education on 10 September 2008,  Official Report , columns 1939-41W. The response remains the same because the information published in the answer to the previous question (PQ 220225) is based on the Statistical First Release on Student Loans for Higher Education in England, Financial Year 2007-08 (provisional) which remains the latest published information available. The SFR is accessible at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000797/index.shtml

Vocational Training

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many businesses in  (a) West Chelmsford constituency,  (b) London and  (c) England have signed the skills pledge.

Si�n Simon: The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by employers to support their employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to five good GCSEs).
	Since the launch of the Skills Pledge in June 2007 we have made excellent progress. The latest available figures up until December 2008, show that 13 organisations in the West Chelmsford constituency, 2,141 organisations in the London LSC region and 11,266 organisations in England have made the Skills Pledge. Please note that these figures include both public and private organisations.

Vocational Training: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many vocational training courses in  (a) dance,  (b) hairdressing,  (c) food processing (wine),  (d) aromatherapy,  (e) ear-piercing and  (f) beauty treatment received funding from his Department in 2008.

Si�n Simon: As announced through the Government's Grant Letter to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on 18 November, funding for adult learning will be 3.3 billion in 2009-10, an increase of 4.2 per cent. compared with 2008-09.
	FE Colleges and providers are given indicative budgets based on the expected delivery of an overall volume of learning. The actual numbers and types of courses delivered by a college or provider will depend on learner and employer demand. The Statistical First Release (SFR) DIUS: Post-16 Education: Learner Participation and Outcomes in England 2007/08 (December 2008) provides information on the number of LSC funded learners in particular sectors, however information on the number of different courses funded in a given year is not collected. The SFR can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000825/index.shtml

Vocational Training: Young People

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will take steps to assist those small and medium-sized enterprises which work with disadvantaged young people over the age of 18 years to improve their life prospects.

Si�n Simon: We recognise that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the third sector have a particular role as providers of learning to disadvantaged people, including disadvantaged young people.
	DIUS is currently developing a Department wide Third Sector Strategy which will address how we work with the third sector across the range of our policies and programmes. We aim to ensure we make best use of the potential of the third sector to contribute to meeting our skills agenda through its ability to engage with disadvantaged groups.
	To help ensure that the skills of people in the third sector are developed, DIUS, in conjunction with Office of the Third Sector, has supported the establishment of SkillsThird Sector, a new sector skills body. SkillsThird Sector will work with employers in the sector to identify and meet learning needs of the sector and work to increase take-up of training.
	DIUS is already supporting small and medium employers to meet the training needs of their staff in a range of ways:
	In the White Paper New OpportunitiesFair Chances for the Future the Government have outlined a commitment to ensure young people who are persistent NEETs (not in education, employment or training) have the right support and incentives to move off benefits, or out of inactivity, into education, training or work. Part of our offer includes initiatives we are supporting through small and medium employers, such as local employment partnerships and apprenticeships, which we have reformed and expanded.
	DIUS published Skills for Life: Changing Lives this month, which sets out our refreshed strategy for helping people at disadvantage through lack of basic skills. This strategy will ensure that SME employers and employees can access Skills for Life courses at all levels up to and including Level 2, and drive improvements in provision.
	Train to Gain is the Government's flagship service for employers, including SMEs. Train to Gain provides learning opportunities for all employees, including those disadvantaged in the workplace. Train to Gain is available to employees and volunteers in the third sector. The new package announced for SMEs in October 2008 includes additional flexibilities for SMEs including bite size learning and funding for learners who already have qualifications. From December 2008 the new flexibilities for SMEs were available to all paid employees in third sector SMEs.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Semitism: Children

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1253W, on anti-Semitism: children, if she will make it her policy to record the circumstances behind each such case; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The Government intend to introduce a new statutory duty on schools to record all incidents of bullying between pupils. We are planning to launch a full public consultation in May on draft regulations, and will be consulting on making it compulsory for incidents of bullying to be recorded by type, as related to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexuality etc.

Anti-Semitism: Greater London

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of anti-Semitic attacks in London in each of the last five years; and what steps she is taking to combat anti-Semitic attacks.

Alan Campbell: The statistics collected centrally in relation to religious or racially motivated offences do not include information that would allow the separate identification of offences committed against the Jewish community. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. Work on tackling anti-Semitic attacks forms part of the overall cross-government action on hate crime and will be reflected in the cross-governmental Hate Crime strategy that we are committed to producing.

Antisocial Behaviour: Alcoholic Drinks

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been issued with penalty notices for disorder for being drunk and disorderly in each of the last three years.

Alan Campbell: The number of people that have been issued with penalty notices for disorder for being drunk and disorderly in England and Wales from 2005 to 2007 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued for being drunk and disorderly, England and Wales, 2005 to 2007, broken down by age, sex and police force area( 1) 
			2005  2006  2007 
			  Force  Age  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female 
			  Avon and Somerset 16-17 7  11 1 10 1 
			  18-20 70 11 57 5 58 10 
			  21 and over 221 69 138 31 161 25 
			  Total 298 80 206 37 229 36 
			 
			  Bedfordshire 16-17 14 4 12 3 10 2 
			  18-20 54 10 57 12 42 4 
			  21 and over 194 32 191 29 184 23 
			  Total 262 46 260 44 236 29 
			 
			  British Transport Police( 1) 16-17   7 2 29 2 
			  18-20   73 4 94 7 
			  21 and over   457 58 653 85 
			  Total   537 64 776 94 
			 
			  Cambridgeshire 16-17 15 1 14  18 3 
			  18-20 81 21 59 12 84 11 
			  21 and over 285 44 237 39 278 34 
			  Total 381 66 310 51 380 48 
			 
			  Cheshire 16-17 13 4 7 2 25 3 
			  18-20 32 2 17 6 120 22 
			  21 and over 126 26 68 29 358 77 
			  Total 171 32 92 37 503 102 
			 
			  City of London 16-17 31  
			  18-20 11  18 1 21 5 
			  21 and over 93 6 172 13 230 27 
			  Total 107 6 190 14 252 32 
			 
			  Cleveland 16-17 42 19 20 3 31 12 
			  18-20 170 30 66 13 112 18 
			  21 and over 384 77 165 29 290 83 
			  Total 596 126 251 45 433 113 
			 
			  Cumbria 16-17 50 12 46 12 12 3 
			  18-20 168 31 164 33 178 21 
			  21 and over 337 80 367 95 430 96 
			  Total 555 123 577 140 620 120 
			 
			  Derbyshire 16-17 50 10 51 13 53 12 
			  18-20 133 17 147 22 180 23 
			  21 and over 281 80 363 84 428 85 
			  Total 464 107 561 119 661 120 
			 
			  Devon and Cornwall 16-17 67 17 91 26 78 14 
			  18-20 339 56 504 62 453 60 
			  21 and over 1,049 186 1,218 223 969 168 
			  Total 1,455 259 1,813 311 1,500 242 
			 
			  Dorset 16-17 4  5 4 13 1 
			  18-20 26 7 54 2 42 5 
			  21 and over 82 10 102 12 130 16 
			  Total 112 17 161 18 185 22 
			  Durham 16-17 8 2 5 1 4  
			  18-20 234 40 139 39 240 37 
			  21 and over 398 101 297 61 496 125 
			  Total 640 143 441 101 740 162 
			 
			  Essex 16-17 39 6 40 10 22 2 
			  18-20 139 22 185 27 91 14 
			  21 and over 403 63 551 92 293 56 
			  Total 581 91 776 129 406 72 
			 
			 
			  Gloucestershire 16-17 14 1 10 4 10 4 
			  18-20 51 13 34 7 22 5 
			  21 and over 229 43 132 29 88 11 
			  Total 294 57 176 40 120 20 
			 
			  Greater Manchester 16-17 36 9 26 6 24 12 
			  18-20 108 14 58 7 68 16 
			  21 and over 330 76 210 41 231 44 
			  Total 474 99 294 54 323 72 
			 
			  Hampshire 16-17 63 6 17 7 18 6 
			  18-20 247 22 122 17 148 21 
			  21 and over 604 104 370 45 346 46 
			  Total 914 132 509 69 512 73 
			 
			  Hertfordshire 16-17 24 7 20 4 21 2 
			  18-20 95 11 42 7 80 14 
			  21 and over 183 29 137 25 145 26 
			  Total 302 47 199 36 246 42 
			 
			  Humberside 16-17 46 8 56 19 42 11 
			  18-20 155 24 224 37 151 21 
			  21 and over 378 73 599 81 385 65 
			  Total 579 105 879 137 578 97 
			 
			  Kent 16-17 102 19 111 27 125 29 
			  18-20 390 46 400 53 514 66 
			  21 and over 868 178 1,120 208 1,289 244 
			  Total 1,360 243 1,631 288 1,928 339 
			 
			  Lancashire 16-17 330 84 379 107 426 126 
			  18-20 992 128 1,043 183 1,188 227 
			  21 and over 2,684 538 2,733 550 3,181 750 
			  Total 4,006 750 4,155 840 4,795 1,103 
			 
			  Leicestershire 16-17 4  1  7 3 
			  18-20 22 4 12 1 81 10 
			  21 and over 54 7 56 7 293 36 
			  Total 80 11 69 8 381 49 
			 
			  Lincolnshire 16-17 5 1 11  5  
			  18-20 21 3 19 4 15 2 
			  21 and over 42 6 53 11 51 4 
			  Total 68 10 83 15 71 6 
			 
			  Merseyside 16-17 268 74 267 88 248 74 
			  18-20 772 124 681 118 725 136 
			  21 and over 1,999 437 1,801 398 2,243 469 
			  Total 3,039 635 2,749 604 3,216 679 
			 
			  Metropolitan Police 16-17 80 13 67 20 68 16 
			  18-20 468 48 404 59 372 66 
			  21 and over 2,895 484 2,806 448 2,572 400 
			  Total 3,443 545 3,277 527 3,012 482 
			 
			  Norfolk 16-17 5 1 1  8  
			  18-20 24 4 19 4 62 7 
			  21 and over 95 20 74 16 184 23 
			  Total 124 25 94 20 254 30 
			 
			  Northamptonshire 16-17 40 12 44 14 17 2 
			  18-20 150 26 126 7 78 11 
			  21 and over 367 62 310 61 222 26 
			  Total 557 100 480 82 317 39 
			 
			  Northumbria 16-17 21 5 173 55 203 73 
			  18-20 386 70 876 186 1,066 270 
			  21 and over 804 149 2,224 471 2,610 817 
			  Total 1,211 224 3,273 712 3,879 1,160 
			 
			  North Yorkshire 16-17   36 10 50 29 
			  18-20 171 28 234 38 264 36 
			  21 and over 517 94 589 111 623 99 
			  Total 688 122 859 159 937 164 
			 
			  Nottinghamshire 16-17 21 7 19 4 28 6 
			  18-20 164 24 106 18 152 17 
			  21 and over 403 51 310 65 356 66 
			  Total 588 82 435 87 536 89 
			 
			  South Yorkshire 16-17 89 22 150 45 144 49 
			  18-20 502 72 543 91 592 107 
			  21 and over 1,299 286 1,323 288 1,546 282 
			  Total 1,890 380 2,016 424 2,282 438 
			 
			  Staffordshire 16-17 21 5 31 4 27 4 
			  18-20 104 15 89 7 96 16 
			  21 and over 258 51 247 55 245 45 
			  Total 383 71 367 66 368 65 
			 
			  Suffolk 16-17 26 2 17 2 3  
			  18-20 110 10 103 8 26 2 
			  21 and over 226 30 225 21 55 12 
			  Total 362 42 345 31 84 14 
			 
			  Surrey 16-17 7 2 10 5 16 4 
			  18-20 93 15 114 12 72 11 
			  21 and over 233 51 325 64 183 58 
			  Total 333 68 449 81 271 73 
			 
			  Sussex 16-17 89 20 66 11 59 19 
			  18-20 323 57 376 49 373 57 
			  21 and over 906 167 941 156 929 174 
			  Total 1,318 244 1,383 216 1,361 250 
			 
			  Thames Valley 16-17 4  13 6 8 4 
			  18-20 78 9 69 7 80 12 
			  21 and over 224 17 163 25 227 32 
			  Total 306 26 245 38 315 48 
			 
			  Warwickshire 16-17 9  9 1 8 1 
			  18-20 33 5 11  29 10 
			  21 and over 69 11 36 3 66 6 
			  Total 111 16 56 4 103 17 
			 
			  West Mercia 16-17 41 4 51 13 38 5 
			  18-20 130 9 191 26 148 34 
			  21 and over 234 32 377 61 350 51 
			  Total 405 45 619 100 536 90 
			 
			  West Midlands 16-17 86 19 110 42 179 37 
			  18-20 373 40 600 74 849 107 
			  21 and over 1,056 184 1,616 223 2,321 359 
			  Total 1,515 243 2,326 339 3,349 503 
			 
			  West Yorkshire 16-17 122 21 257 49 152 34 
			  18-20 427 52 831 136 659 108 
			  21 and over 1,188 244 2,129 428 1,565 336 
			  Total 1,737 317 3,217 613 2,376 478 
			 
			  Wiltshire 16-17 6  18 6 15 6 
			  18-20 93 8 90 15 72 4 
			  21 and over 237 38 233 42 176 24 
			  Total 336 46 341 63 263 34 
			 
			  Dyfed-Powys 16-17 19 3 19 1 13  
			  18-20 87 8 82 15 63 4 
			  21 and over 266 35 224 46 174 32 
			  Total 372 46 325 62 250 36 
			 
			  Gwent 16-17 22 2 12 2 16  
			  18-20 56 10 72 4 54 4 
			  21 and over 121 20 173 22 119 17 
			  Total 199 32 257 28 189 21 
			 
			  North Wales 16-17 83 14 116 32 100 27 
			  18-20 301 29 293 44 274 27 
			  21 and over 664 115 704 118 680 113 
			  Total 1,048 158 1,113 194 1,054 167 
			 
			  South Wales 16-17 24 2 61 10 21 4 
			  18-20 109 14 166 28 72 5 
			  21 and over 281 65 464 96 212 51 
			  Total 414 81 691 134 305 60 
			 
			  England and Wales 16-17 2,019 438 2,487 671 2,405 642 
			  18-20 8,492 1,189 9,570 1,500 10,160 1,670 
			  21 and over 23,567 4,471 27,030 5,010 28,567 5,618 
			  Total 34,078 6,098 39,087 7,181 41,132 7,930 
			 (1) British Transport Police did not start issuing PNDs until 2006  Source: Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been issued with penalty notices for disorder in each of the last three years, broken down by type of offence; and how many remain unpaid.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 10 March 2009
	The number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued and not paid within the suspended enforcement period in England and Wales for each year from 2005 to 2007 (latest published), broken down by offence are in the following table. PND data for 2008 will be available in November 2009.
	Under the PND scheme, recipients have 21 days in which either to pay the penalty or request a court hearing. If no action is taken, a fine of one and a half times the penalty amount is registered against an offender by the magistrates court. The overall fine payment rate at court is 85 per cent.; the courts fine registration system cannot differentiate between those fines arising from unpaid PNDs and any other fine.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to offenders of all ages and not paid( 1) , broken down by offence, in England and Wales, 2005 to 2007( 2) 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			  Offence  Issued  Not paid  Issued  Not paid  Issued  Not paid 
			 Wasting police time 2,525 1,326 3,933 2,022 3,966 2,104 
			 Misuse of public telecommunications system 405 167 909 386 1,193 523 
			 Giving false alarm to fire or rescue authority 92 43 106 63 96 41 
			 Causing harassment, alarm and distress 64,007 30,092 82,235 39,115 77,827 37,470 
			 Throwing fireworks 642 295 682 302 649 275 
			 Drunk and disorderly 37,038 16,176 43,556 18,883 46,996 20,629 
			 Criminal Damage (under 500) 12,168 5,172 20,620 9,269 19,946 8,874 
			 Theft (retail under 200) 21,997 12,940 38,772 22,603 45,146 26,035 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew 33 15 53 19 39 14 
			 Possession of category 4 firework 13 8 28 16 22 12 
			 Possession of adult firework by person under 18 47 18 76 25 106 39 
			 Sale of alcohol to drunken person 32 8 47 12 81 17 
			 Supply of alcohol to person under 18 3 1 60 7 54 13 
			 Sale of alcohol to person under 18 2,058 253 3,195 439 3,583 509 
			 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 170 64 407 139 555 235 
			 Purchase alcohol for person under 18 for consumption on premises 83 24 60 21 64 33 
			 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery 209 81 297 121 431 163 
			 Trespass on a railway 220 123 1,042 491 1,527 747 
			 Throwing stones at a train/railway 20 7 15 9 25 12 
			 Drunk in a highway 3,138 1,469 2,712 1,279 2,066 920 
			 Consumption of alcohol in public place 712 544 1,061 809 1,544 1,216 
			 Littering 737 369 1,169 576 1,374 669 
			 Consumption of alcohol by person under 18 on relevant premises 84 18 75 20 85 18 
			 Allowing consumption of alcohol by person under 18 on relevant premises 27 13 14 4 11 2 
			 Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18 21 8 73 21 158 49 
			 Totalall offences 146,481 69,234 201,197 96,651 207,544 100,619 
			 (1) Not paidnot paid within the suspended enforcement period. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Asylum: Repatriation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme in 2008.

Phil Woolas: This information is currently not available as the cost of the 2008 Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme is subject to audit.

Asylum: Zimbabwe

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Zimbabwe who  (a) have been and  (b) have not been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK were held in immigration detention centres on 1 December 2008.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 15 December 2008
	The UK Border Agency only detains those Zimbabwean nationals who have committed crimes within the United Kingdom and are subject to deportation action and have been assessed as unsuitable for release due to being either a threat to the public and/or are likely to abscond. During December 2008 there were around 35 Zimbabwean criminals who have been detained beyond their sentence.
	All foreign criminals detained pending deportation action have their detention regularly reviewed and have the opportunity to apply for release on bail to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Asylum: Zimbabwe

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will grant temporary leave to remain to refused Zimbabwean asylum seekers until it is safe for them to return home.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2009
	 Following the recent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal country guidance judgment, all cases are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Those asylum seekers deemed to need protection will be granted it.
	Where the independent courts have confirmed that it is safe for an individual to return home, we expect them to return home voluntarily. Hundreds of Zimbabweans have voluntarily returned home since we suspended enforced removals in September 2006.

Children: Chernobyl

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with her Belarus counterpart on visits of children to the UK from Belarus.

Phil Woolas: The Belarusian authorities have suspended visits to the UK by children from Chernobyl contaminated areas on charitable programmes. Negotiations are being carried out at official level on a bilateral arrangement that will allow the visits to recommence. We hope to reach agreement so that visits can be planned for the summer holidays.

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what crime and disorder reduction partnerships have been established in each local authority area in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) in England and Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) in Wales were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. These partnerships are organised on local government boundaries and are sited at unitary authority level in single tier authorities and district level in two-tier areas in England and county council or county borough council level in Wales. There are 346 CDRPs in England and 22 CSPs in Wales. Adjoining CDRPs/CSPs can formally merge if this is in the interests of reducing crime and disorder, subject to approval by the Secretary of State. Since 2005, six formal mergers of two or more CDRP areas have taken place.

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of  (a) business improvement districts,  (b) crime and disorder partnerships and  (c) town centre management schemes at reducing crime.

Alan Campbell: Business improvement districts and town centre management schemes are locally funded approaches that primarily aim to improve the trading environment and image of defined areas. Information is not collected centrally on the performance of these schemes. Each scheme is accountable to its funder(s) who in most cases are the local authority.
	Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, Crime and Disorder Partnerships (or Community Safety Partnerships in Wales) were required to report annually to the Secretary of State on their activities. This duty was repealed in 2007 in recognition that partnership working practices had matured, to reduce bureaucracy and to enhance the response to the local community's needs. It was replaced by statutory requirements for CDRPs/CSPs to produce a strategic assessment identifying local community safety priorities and a partnership plan which sets out the approach for addressing these priorities and is published locally (in summary form). Hallmarks of Effective Partnerships were also introduced to drive up standards.
	Regional Government offices provide a link between CDRPs/CSPs and central Government and have a key role in improving the effectiveness of partnerships. They work closely with partnerships to monitor their work in relation to local and national priorities, and provide support and guidance on the implementation of the hallmarks of effective practice.

Crimes of Violence

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the power to issue directions to leave under section 27(1) of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 have been used in each police force area in each year since 2006.

Alan Campbell: The information requested on the number of directions to leave issued by the police, and arrests for failing to comply with the direction to leave is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	Offences of failing to comply with directions to leave under section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 are not notifiable offences and do not form part of the arrests collection.

Crimes of Violence: Crime Prevention

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many woundings were reported in each of the four cities targeted by the Tackling Gangs Action Programme where the weapon used was  (a) a gun and  (b) a sharp or pointed instrument in each of the last three years.

Alan Campbell: Available data for Manchester, Liverpool, London and Birmingham relate to offences recorded at police force area level by the following forces: Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Metropolitan and West Midlands. Figures in the following table are based upon headline figures presented in tables 1.03, 1.13 and 2b of Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2007/08 (HOSB 02/09), and table 3.09 of Crime in England and Wales 2007/08 (HOSB 07/08).
	
		
			  Offences involving the use of a sharp instrument or firearm resulting in injury: TGAP forces, 2005-06 to 2007-08( 1) 
			  Number of offences 
			   Weapon type  Greater Manchester  Merseyside  Metropolitan  West Midlands 
			 2005-06  Homicide( 2) : 
			  Shooting(3) 5 1 23 5 
			  Sharp instrument(4) 11 10 57 22 
			  Firearm offences(5) resulting in injury (excluding fatal) 347 248 1,627 368 
			  Knife offences(4, 6) resulting in injury (excluding fatal) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			   
			 2006-07  Homicide( 2) : 
			  Shooting(3) 4 5 29 3 
			  Sharp instrument(4) 13 10 70 15 
			  Firearm offences(5) resulting in injury (excluding fatal) 261 178 1,299 382 
			  Knife offences(4, 6) resulting in injury (excluding fatal) n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			   
			 2007-08  Homicide( 2) : 
			  Shooting(3) 6 6 23 4 
			  Sharp instrument(4) 15 9 78 15 
			  Firearm offences(5) resulting in injury (excluding fatal) 307 134 1,494 351 
			  Knife offences(4, 6) resulting in injury (excluding fatal) 915 364 1,747 931 
			 n/a = Not available. These data have been collected centrally only since April 2007. (1) Offences are shown according to the financial year (April to March) in which they were recorded by police. This is not necessarily the year in which the offence took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (2) Currently recorded homicides as at 4 November 2008; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (3) Includes air weapons, crossbows. Excludes cases where weapon used as a blunt instrument. (4) Includes knives and other sharp instruments. (5) Includes air weapons, excludes crossbows. Injury incurred by weapon being fired or used as a blunt instrument. (6) Relates only to offences recorded as 'wounding with intent to do GBH' or 'wounding or inflicting GBH' (i.e. without intent).

Departmental Art Works

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which works of art from the Government Art Collection each Minister in her Department has selected for display in a private office.

Phil Woolas: The following works of art have been selected:
	
		
			   Artist/makers 
			  Home Secretary  
			 Untitled (Mountains and Water) Paul Joyce 
			 Untitled (Ridge and Clouds) Paul Joyce 
			 Just in Time Wilhelmina Barns-Graham 
			 Two Circles on Purple Wilhelmina Barns-Graham 
			 Vision in Time Wilhelmina Barns-Graham 
			 Grey Mountain Heena Nadeem 
			   
			  Minister of State Policing, Crime and Security  
			 Attaching the Winch Bernard Cheese 
			 Still Night Patricia Pratt 
			 This Land of Ours Alan Baines 
			   
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction  
			 Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (1769-1822) Statesman Sir Thomas Lawrence, Charles Turner 
			 Tinmouth Castle from the North, with a View of the Haven, etc. John Warwick Smith, Francois Vivares 
			 An Election Ball William Heath (Paul Pry) 
			 Sir Robert Peel Bt (1788-1850) Prime Minister Sir Thomas Lawrence, Samuel Cousins 
			 George Canning (1770-1827) Prime Minister Thomas Stewardson, William Brett 
			 Metro IV Michael Upton 
			 Metro V Michael Upton 
			 Metro (Newcastle) Michael Upton 
			 Two Pair of Portraits: presented to all the unbiased Electors of Great Britain, by John Horne Tooke James Gillray, C. Starck 
			   
			  Minister of State for Borders and Immigration  
			 Apse of Notre Dame Bernard Kay 
			 Chartres East Bernard Kay 
			 Chartres West Bernard Kay 
			 Interior, Poitiers Bernard Kay 
			 Beauvais Bernard Kay 
			 Syon House Conservatory Charles Gautier 
			   
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Home Office  
			 The River Thames at Richmond Wapping to Windsor Anthony Etheringtom 
			 Jackson's Pond 35 Artists Printmaking,  Folio 3 Norman Ackroyd 
			   
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Security and Counter-Terrorism  
			 Overside Discharge into Barges at Malta October 1943 Bernard Hailstone 
			 Seascape with Royal Naval Ships, c.1943 Charles King 
			 Night in the Docks Charles David Cobb 
			 Working Controls while Submerged Submarine lithographs Eric Ravilious 
			 Entering the Harwich Channel Robert Butler

Departmental Security

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 284W, on departmental security, what procedures are in place to minimise the security risk posed by lost or stolen security passes.

Phil Woolas: It is not our policy to disclose security procedures.

Departmental Translation Services

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on translation services in 2008, broken down by area of allocation.

Phil Woolas: The Department's expenditure on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, being the most recent period for which audited figures are available, is set out in the table.
	
		
			   000 
			 Home Office, including UKBA 9,636 
			 Identity and Passport Service 260 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 0 
		
	
	The figures cannot be broken down by allocation, without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The offer of interpreter services was introduced in the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) when interviews for first time adults became compulsory in 2007-08.
	Face-to-face interviews for first time applicants are designed to help tackle fraud and ensure the British passport remains among the most secure in the world.
	Interviews are tailored to the individual in order to securely establish identity and it is possible that some interviews could require the assistance of an interpreter to help IPS staff satisfy themselves that the person attending is the legitimate passport applicant

Drugs: Humberside

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the Humberside Police Authority area were  (a) arrested for,  (b) charged with and  (c) convicted of drug offences in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The available information for the number of people in the Humberside Police Authority area arrested for drug offences in each of the last five years is given in table 1.
	Data provided by the Ministry of Justice, showing the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of drug offences in the Humberside Police Force Area, 2003 to 2007 are in table 2. Charging data are not collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice; proceeded against information is provided in lieu.
	The court proceedings statistics provided relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with.
	When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Table 1 :  Persons arrested for drugs offences by police force area, England and Wales( 1) 
			   Number of arrests for drug offences 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Humberside 1,337 1,484 1,242 1,082 1,209 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for drug offences, in Humberside police force area, 2003 - 07( 1,2) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Proceeded against 740 790 739 680 716 
			 Found guilty 672 719 685 665 674 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Drunkenness: Beverley

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals aged under 18 years resident in Beverley were  (a) arrested for and  (b) issued with a penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The number of persons aged 16 to 17 years issued with a penalty notice for disorder (PND) for being drunk and disorderly, in the Humberside police force area, which includes Beverley, from 2004, when the scheme was implemented, to 2007 (latest available) are given in the following table.
	PND data are collected centrally at police force area level; data for Beverley is not available separately.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  The number of penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 to 17 years for being drunk and disorderly( 1) , in the Humberside police force area, from 2004 to 2007( 2) 
			   Total issued 
			 2004 57 
			 2005 54 
			 2006 75 
			 2007 53 
			 (1 )Data includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes:  Being found drunk in a highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on licensed premisesLicensing Act 1872, section 12;  Being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviourCriminal Justice Act 1967, section 91. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit

Immobilisation of Vehicles: Scotland

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make an assessment of the efficacy of the prohibition of wheel clamping on private land in Scotland to assist in formulating her policy for England.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 9 March 2009
	Wheel-clamping was not prohibited in Scotland as a result of a Government decision. The position in Scotland was determined by case law which determined that wheel-clamping on private land amounted to theft and the demand of a release fee amounted to extortion under Scottish Law.
	Ministers have recently received a feasibility study undertaken by the SIA on the various options for the regulation of vehicle immobilisation companies who work on private land in England and Wales. We will take into account the evidence contained in this feasibility study as the policy on the compulsory licensing of companies in England and Wales is developed.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam of 21 August 2008 concerning Mr. Dennis Green of Cheam.

Phil Woolas: Ministerial letters received at the Home Office are routinely scanned on arrival onto the Correspondence Tracking System (CTS) by the Direct Communications Unit (DCU). There is no record on the system of a letter dated 21 August 2008 from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam having been received.
	The Member's office has now provided the Home Office with a copy of the letter, and this was scanned onto CTS on 13 March. A reply will be provided as quickly as possible, and within the office's 15 working day target.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam of 11 September 2008 concerning Mr. David Hughes of Sutton.

Phil Woolas: Ministerial letters received at the Home Office are routinely scanned on arrival onto the correspondence tracking system (CTS) by the Direct Communications Unit (DCU). There is no record on the system of a letter dated 11 September 2008 from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam having been received.
	The Member's office has now provided the Home Office with a copy of the letter, and this was scanned onto CTS on 13 March. A reply will be provided as quickly as possible, and within the Office's 15 working day target.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 20 January 2009 on Mrs. K. Mirza.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 9 March 2009.

National Identity Register

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements there will be on persons required to register on the National Identity Register to attend interviews.

Shahid Malik: In some cases, individuals may be asked to attend an interview when they apply for registration on the National Identity Register or for a replacement card. We will build upon existing practice where first time adult passport applicants are interviewed in order to help confirm their identity.

National Identity Register

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 157W, on the National Identity Register, whether there will be indirect links between the National Identity Register and other Government databases; and whether third party organisations will have indirect access to the register.

Shahid Malik: The Identity Cards Act 2006 sets out the legal basis for the provision of information from the National Identity Register, such as a person's name or address, in order to assist in verifying that individual's identity. This will necessitate arrangements for the provision of such information from the register to an authorised person, but it will not involve third party access to the register.

Offensive Weapons: Convictions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2056W, on the Tackling Knives Action Programme, what the figure of 815 more convictions for possession of a knife or offensive weapon in the 10 Tackling Knives Action Programme areas represents as a percentage increase.

Jacqui Smith: Management information being used to monitor TKAP suggests that in the period June to November 2008 there were 815 more convictions for possession of a knife or offensive weapon in the 10 TKAP areas than in the same period of 2007. This figure represents a 17 per cent. increase between the two periods.
	These figures are provisional and have been derived from the police's administrative IT system, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Police: Health

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data on police fitness tests her Department collected from police forces in 2007-08.

Jacqui Smith: In 2007-08 the following fitness test data was collected from each police force authority by ethnicity and gender: Numbers taking fitness test; Results (Dynamic strength push/pull/overall, endurance); Overall result (pass/fail).
	The Policing Green Paper announced that Sir David Normington, permanent secretary to the Home Office, would lead a review of the strategic data collection burden placed by the Home Office on police forces in England and Wales. Sir David's report was published on 16 February.
	Fitness tests data collection was one of the data streams cut. It was previously required by HMIC and recorded fitness test breakdown by gender, number of attempts, number taking the attempt and the fitness skill level tested. Given HMIC's new mission after the publication of the Policing Green Paper, this data is no longer required by them. Forces have been informed not to provide the data in the 2009-10 Annual Data Requirement notice thereby removing the burden on police support staff to collate and supply the data to the Home Office.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many foreign national prisoners granted immigration bail by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal have subsequently re-offended in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many foreign national prisoners held under immigration detention powers have been granted bail in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency is advised of all individuals who meet the published criteria for deportation, however there are a number of cases where individuals have been convicted of minor offences and consequently only received a brief custodial sentence. In order to identify how many individuals who have been detained under immigration powers were previously convicted of a criminal offence within the United Kingdom which resulted in a custodial sentence and how many of those were subsequently granted bail it would be necessary to cross reference UK Border Agency records with those held by the Police which would incur a significantly disproportionate cost.
	The Chief Executive has regularly written to the Home Affairs Select Committee in order to update them with all of the most robust and accurate information relating to foreign national prisoners. She has explained that those who are detained have the right to apply for bail to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. When the Agency believes that the individual concerned presents a risk of harm to the public, it will robustly contest the application for bail. The Agency will continue to pursue removal action where appropriate.
	Copies of these letters are available in the Library of the House.

Racially Aggravated Offences: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported incidents of racism there have been in  (a) the North East,  (b) Tees Valley and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office. The series has the number of racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police but cannot identify those which are deemed to be 'institutionally racist'.

Vetting

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to introduce basic disclosures for Criminal Records Bureau checks; and what recent estimate she has made of the cost of introducing basic disclosures for such checks.

Shahid Malik: holding answer 16 March 2009
	The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will be making a commitment in its Corporate Plan 2009-10 to research how it can implement a Basic Disclosure Service. In doing so, the bureau has begun work on design requirements for the operational model and will be testing this further with its stakeholders and potential customers over the next 12 months. The associated costs and business benefits will be evaluated as part of this work.

Vetting: Teachers

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many Criminal Records Bureau checks there were of teachers recruited to work in Muslim schools in 2008;
	(2)  how many Criminal Records Bureau checks there were on  (a) paid and  (b) volunteer staff recruited to work in mosques in England and Wales in 2008.

Shahid Malik: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not capture this information. This information is not relevant to any of the searches performed against the Police National Computer (PNC) or other data sources.

Visas: Overseas Students

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions the UK Border Agency applies in determining the length of student visas for foreign students wishing to study at educational institutions in the UK.

Phil Woolas: The period of leave granted to overseas students depends on the type of course they are studying and our policies are set out in full in Chapter 3, Section 3, paragraph 27 of the Immigration Directorates' Instructions, which can be accessed on our website at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. For the majority of students, however, leave is granted for the duration of the course or period of study, followed by an additional period of up to four months to await exam results, attend graduation, and either enrol on another course, make an application to switch into an employment route, which is possible for up to two years, or else leave the UK.

Work Permits

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1834-35W, on work permits, if she will break down each category of occupation by nationality of permit applicant.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 23 February 2009
	 The tables placed in the House Library provide a breakdown of the top 20 occupations by nationality and the associated number of individual approved work permit applications for the period 1 January 2006-31 December 2008 with the appropriate caveats.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Angling

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will assess the effect of the increases in planning fee charges on firms constructing fishing lakes.

Iain Wright: Planning application fees were increased in April 2008. In its response to the public consultation on the proposed fee increases, Planning Fees in England: Proposals for Change (November 2007), the Government committed to review the impact of the increases and take a further look at planning fees in 2009.
	We are currently conducting a review of planning application fees and will assess the effect of the increases on the fee category which includes the construction of fishing lakes.

Building Regulations

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to include guidance on the installation and use of circulation pumps in the revision of Parts L1A and L1B Building Regulations.

Iain Wright: We are currently reviewing part L of the building regulations and are considering the potential introduction of minimum provisions for circulation pumps in both domestic and non-domestic buildings in 2010. The eventual proposals will be the subject of a formal public consultation that we expect to issue shortly.

Buildings: Disabled

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which planning  (a) policy statement and  (b) guidance notes issued by her Department contain information on the provision of access for disabled people.

Iain Wright: The following planning policy statements and guidance notes issued by CLG (and predecessor Departments) contain information on the provision of access for disabled people:
	Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development (PPS1) (2005)
	Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) (2006)
	Consultation Paper on new Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Development (2007)
	Urban Design in the Planning System: Towards Better Practice (2000)
	Planning and access for disabled people: a good practice guide (2003)
	Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres (PPS6) (2005)
	Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7) (2004)
	Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport (PPG 13) (2001)
	Guidance on Transport Assessment (2007)
	Using the Planning Process to Secure Travel Plans: Best Practice Guidance for Local Authorities, Developers and Occupiers (2002)
	Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment (PPG15) (1994)
	Assessing Needs and Opportunities: A Companion Guide to PPG17 (2002)
	Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (PPS25) (2006)
	Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk - Practice Guide (2008)
	DCLG Circular 01/2006 Guidance on Changes to the Development Control System Diversity and Equality in Planning: A good practice guide (2005)
	The Manual for Streets (2007)
	Better Places to Live by Design: A Companion Guide to PPG3 (2001)
	Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention (2004)
	The Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004.

Community Development

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department is providing to each of the regional neighbourhood training and resource centres in 2008-09.

Sadiq Khan: CLG is providing a total of 2,267,142 to Neighbourhood Training and Resource Centres (NTRCs) in 2008-09, broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Region  Comment   
			 London Also covers Eastern Region. 611,500 
			 North East Funding is split between the Resource Centre and the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership. 242,000 
			 North West  523,000 
			 South East  207,109 
			 South West  200,350 
			 West Midlands Also covers parts of East Midlands 249,583 
			 Yorkshire and Hull Also covers parts of East Midlands 233,600

Community Relations: Finance

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department has provided for Radical Middle Way in each year since 2005; how much funding was for the support of  (a) domestic programmes,  (b) overseas programmes and  (c) website costs; and what funding has been allocated to Radical Middle Way in 2008-09 for expenditure in each category.

Sadiq Khan: From December 2005 to February 2007 (Phase 1), the Radical Middle Way (RMW) was funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office at a cost of 460,000. 35,000 of this was for their website.
	From October 2007 to May 2008 (Phase 2), the RMW was funded by both the FCO and Communities and Local Government equally at a total cost of 250,000. 12,000 of this was for their website.
	From October 2008 to April 2009 (Phase 3), the RMW's domestic work is being funded exclusively by Communities and Local Government at a cost of 350,000. During this third phase, 7,000 was for their website.
	Separately, the FCO has provided 615,458 for RMW in 2008-09 to deliver a programme of work in countries overseas.

Community Relations: Finance

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department has provided for the Mosaic Muslim Mentoring Scheme in each of the last five years; and what estimate she has made of such expenditure in 2008-09.

Sadiq Khan: The Mosaic Mentoring Scheme was launched in November 2007.
	Communities and Local Government has awarded funding of 51,700 in 2007-08 to the Mosaic Mentoring Scheme through the Preventing Violent Extremism Community Leadership Fund. Funding allocations for 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be announced shortly.

Community Relations: Finance

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of programmes funded under the Prevent strand of Project CONTEST are independently evaluated by social regeneration companies for their effectiveness and value for money.

Sadiq Khan: The majority of Prevent funding from Communities and Local Government has been allocated to local authorities to fund programmes at the local level. Following the 6 million Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder in 2007-08:
	We commissioned a report by the independent company BMG mapping the key outputs from the Fund and drawing together the results from local evaluation activity that had taken place. This was published on 10 December 2008, at the Prevent08 conference, and is available at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/pathfinderfund200708
	Key learning from the Pathfinder year, including from evaluation by independent companies, was drawn together in the publication Delivering PreventResponding to Learning, also available on CLG's website at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/deliveryingprevent
	Moving forward, the key performance indicator for local Prevent work, National Indicator 35, puts effective evaluation at the centre of local Prevent work. It is for individual local authorities to determine the nature and scope of local evaluation and to tender for providers. Communities and Local Government has also commissioned the Tavistock Institute to develop a national evaluation framework and evaluation guidance.
	Prevent programmes funded by Communities and Local Government at the national level which are being evaluated by independent companies are: Radical Middle Way (APEX consulting); the Faith and Social Cohesion Unit in the Charity Commission (currently out to tender); and the Islam and Citizenship Education programme (ICoCo) which is jointly funded by DCSF.
	This response captures evaluation of programmes of Prevent work funded by Communities and Local Government. The Home Office now holds lead responsibility for the cross-government Prevent programme.

Council Housing: Construction

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to increase the rate of council house building.

Iain Wright: We want local authorities to play a bigger role in the delivery of affordable housing where this can be done cost-effectively. My Department is currently consulting on new freedoms that would help councils build more council homes. Under the proposals, councils would keep all the rental income from new homes they build, and the full capital receipts if those homes were sold in future under the right to buy. This extra revenue and capital could be used by councils to help build more council housing. We are also inviting councils to bid for Social Housing Grant. Previously local authorities have not been able to get this funding.

Council Housing: Rents

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 71-72WS, on local authority rents, for what reasons the announcement was not made as part of the local government finance settlement.

Iain Wright: The housing revenue account system is independent of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2009-10. The announcement of help for local authorities to reduce their proposed rent increases for 2009-10 was made on 6 March as soon as was possible to do so after listening to the concerns of tenants and local authorities.

Council Housing: Rents

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department plans to issue a new methodology for retail price inflation to be used for calculation of rent restructuring from 2009-10.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government will be issuing a draft Amending 2009-10 Determination for consultation shortly. This will explain the calculations for revised 2009-10 guideline rents.
	Changes in retail price inflation will be considered when we review guideline rents for 2010-11.

Council Housing: Rents

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 71-72WS, on local authority rents, what the estimated administrative costs are of rebilling of rents for 2009-10 by participating local authorities.

Iain Wright: No such estimate has been made.
	Local authorities' spending allowances were set in the subsidy determination issued in December 2008, with higher inflation factors incorporated in the calculations than would apply now. We do not propose to revisit and reduce these assumptions in the same way that we are looking to reduce rent increases for 2009-10. Our priority and focus has been on helping council house tenants. We would expect, therefore, that local housing authorities will have the resources necessary to cover any such additional cost.
	A letter was sent to councils on 11 March explaining how the revised arrangements will be taken forward.

Council Housing: Rents

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 71-72WS, on local authority rents, what estimate she has made of the proportion of local authorities which will bid for additional subsidy.

Iain Wright: No estimate has been made of the proportion of local authorities that will take advantage of the announcement made in the written ministerial statement. This is a matter for individual authorities to decide according to local circumstances.

Council Tax

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average council tax requirement levied per resident by each county council in England is for 2009-10, ranked from highest to lowest.

John Healey: This information will be available after the publication of the statistical release Council tax levels set by local authorities in England2009-10 on 26 March 2009, and I will place a copy of the data requested in the Library of the House.

Council Tax: Mobile Homes

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the council tax banding applied to park homes; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: No such assessment has been made.

Councillors: Arun

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1072W, on councillors: Arun, what the Audit Commission's basis was for the use of its statutory powers to obtain the personal bank account details of councillors.

Sadiq Khan: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 17 March 2009:
	Your Parliamentary Question on what the Audit Commission's evidential basis was for the use of its statutory powers to obtain the personal bank account details of Arun councillors has been passed to me for reply.
	The request is not limited to councillors. All payroll data is treated in the same way whether it is a salary, members' allowance or other remuneration. Payroll data is one of the key sets of data matched under the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). For example, by matching payroll data to Housing Benefit claimants' data, we can identify potential fraudulent claims or overpayments.
	NFI data processing looks at whether the bank account number and sort code is the same or different in the data provided. This information is then converted into a flag of either 'Yes' the bank details are the same on each data set or 'No' the bank details are different. It is this flag that is included in the NFI reports that helps those participating in the NFI exercise to prioritise cases where income has, for example, potentially been withheld (e.g. in an undeclared bank account). This data is highly significant in the fight against fraud and, in a previous NFI exercise, this information led to the detection of an additional bank account containing capital in excess of 100,000 that was not declared by the housing benefit claimant.
	Although the bank account and sort code are included on the payroll data specification, the name in which the bank account is held is not collected so the Audit Commission cannot make a connection to other account holders or transactions. All the data collected for the National Fraud Initiative is treated with the utmost sensitivity and its use is strictly controlled as set out in the Code of Data Matching Practice, which was laid before Parliament on 21 July 2008. In line with the Code, all original data provided to the Commission will be destroyed and rendered irrecoverable by the Commission at the end of the exercise.

Councillors: Arun

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1072-3W, on councillors: Arun, whether the Audit Commission plans to conduct similar exercises in other local authorities in the next 12 months.

Sadiq Khan: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 17 March 2009:
	Your Parliamentary question on whether the Audit Commission plans to conduct in other local authorities in the next 12 months, exercises similar to that conducted in Arun in connection with the Commission's National Fraud Initiative (NFI), has been passed to me for reply.
	The Commission does not plan to conduct NFI national data matching exercises in other local authorities in the next 12 months because the NFI is currently undertaken every two years. This exercise is carried out under powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. All local authorities were required to provide data, including payroll data, for NFI 2008/09 in October 2008. The next scheduled exercise, NFI 2010/11, will require all local authorities to submit data in October 2010.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Councillors: Arun

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1072-3W, on councillors: Arun, whether the Audit Commission has requested councillors in other local authorities to provide their personal bank account details; and what penalty applies in respect of non-compliance with such a request from the Audit Commission.

Sadiq Khan: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 17 March 2009:
	Your Parliamentary question on whether the Audit Commission has requested councillors in other local authorities to provide their personal bank account details; and what penalty for non-compliance applies in respect of such a request from the Audit Commission has been passed to me for reply.
	All local authorities were required to provide payroll data, including but not restricted to councillors bank account details, for NFI 2008/09 in October 2008. This information was required under powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. Failure to provide the required data without reasonable excuse is an offence for which an individual, on summary conviction, is liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale plus an additional fine of up to 20 for each day that the offence continues after conviction. Currently, a level 3 fine can be for an amount up to 1,000.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Departmental Consultants

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose and function of the McKinsey consultancy services provided to her Department was in relation to the Communities High Level Seminar; and into which categories the 407,000 of expenditure on the consultancy work fell.

Sadiq Khan: McKinsey and Company was commissioned in June 2007, following competitive tender, to help implement the new local performance framework.
	In a first phase of work, they helped: assess opportunities and challenges created by the new framework; identify where to prioritise work to ensure successful delivery; and engage senior leaders (in part through a two-day high-level seminar). Fees for this phase were 125,000 (excluding VAT) or 147,000 (including VAT).
	They were subsequently commissioned to carry out a second phase of work, in which they helped: review and strengthen the cross-government programme to implement the framework, including new local area agreements; establish a cross-government Leadership Coalition to lead reform: and provide input into the Government publication 'An introduction to the local performance frameworkdelivering better outcomes for local people'. Fees for this phase were 240,000 (excluding VAT) or 282,000 (including VAT).

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what property has been lost or stolen from her Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Sadiq Khan: The property reported as lost or stolen by Communities and Local Government in the last 12 months together with the estimated cost of replacement of such property is as follows:
	
		
			  2008-09 
			   Status 
			   Lost  Stolen 
			 Mobile phone 1 0 
			 Laptop computer 0 1 
			 Blackberrys 0 5 
			 Approximate cost of replacement () 60 1,050.00 
		
	
	The official data on the laptop and Blackberrys was not encrypted because it was not classified. However, the laptop and each Blackberry were password protected.
	This answer does not include Government offices for the region who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the register of interests of her Department's special advisers.

Sadiq Khan: The rules and guidance for civil servants, including special advisers, on the declaration of interests and handling conflicts of interest are set out in the Civil Service Management Code and the departmental staff handbook.

Departmental Postal Services

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what percentage of letters sent by her Department were given to  (a) the Royal Mail and  (b) another postal services provider for delivery in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: During the period 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009, 78,105 postal items were despatched via Royal Mail. 19 international postal items, (less than 0.03 per cent. of all items) were despatched via Corporate Mailing Services (CMS) which is a private company sub-contracted to our facilities management services provider.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what mechanisms are in place to evaluate the effects of changes to the disabled facilities grant system published in February 2008;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the effect on local disabled facilities allocation grant of the increase in the grant of 20 per cent.

Iain Wright: The Government regard the disabled facilities grant programme as an important means to help disabled and older people continue to live as independently as possible by having their homes adapted. That is why we have increased the budget to enable more older and disabled people to receive the assistance they require. The effect of the annual grant increase will in part be assessed through the collection of data showing the number of grants awarded. We do not collect data on the time it takes an authority to deliver a disabled facilities grant as circumstances will vary from case to case but recognise that due to budgetary pressures delays in delivery can sometimes occur. The increase in the budget should help to address delays. Other data collected from local authorities will give an indication as to the effect of the wider changes made to the programme such as the relaxation of the grant conditions. We have also set up a group of nine local authorities to evaluate some of the changes to the programme announced in February 2008. The local authorities are assisting with the piloting of the removal of the grant ring fence. The pilot will run for 18 months and a full evaluation will follow prior to any possible implementation.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was  (a) budgeted and  (b) spent on disabled facilities grant in each year since its introduction.

Iain Wright: The Government regard the Disabled Facilities Grant programme as an important means to help disabled and older people continue to live as independently as possible by having their homes adapted. That is why we have more than doubled the Government funds available for the programme from 57 million in 1997 to 146 million in 2008 with an increase of 10 million in each of the subsequent years making the budget 166 million by 2010. Details of the grant contributions by Communities and Local Government can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/supportandadaptations/housingadaptations/localauthoritydfgallocations/

Economic Situation: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department  (a) has undertaken and  (b) plans to undertake in respect of (i) economic competitiveness and (ii) quality of life for residents in seaside towns in England.

John Healey: The Department recognises that seaside towns have a distinctive role to play in sub-regional and regional economies. It supports efforts by the regional development agencies (RDAs), which receive the majority of their funding from CLG, to ensure that seaside towns in their regions are helped to achieve their full economic potential. Initiatives such as the New Deal for Communities, Working Neighbourhoods Fund, and the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative are also benefiting some seaside towns.
	Local area agreements (LAAs) are helping local authorities, including those with seaside towns, to work alongside partners to improve public services and the quality of life for people living and working in their areas. Multi area agreements (MAAs) are enabling some seaside towns, such as Bournemouth and Poole, to develop stronger approaches to improving local prosperity. The Government Office for the South West is currently working closely with Torbay on plans to set up an Economic Development Company to promote economic growth and regeneration.
	The cross-Government working group on coastal towns, led by CLG, in partnership with the RDA Coastal Areas Network, is identifying areas where more can be done and to highlight existing best practice. This includes supporting work by the Coastal Areas Network to help coastal areas address employment and skills challenges.

Eco-Towns

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects the Eco-towns Planning Policy Statement to be published.

Margaret Beckett: We expect to publish the Eco-towns Planning Policy Statement (PPS) later this year following consideration of responses to the consultation on the draft PPS, which runs until 30 April 2009.

European Regional Development Fund

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes have been made to her Department's budgets to provide for payment of the financial corrections required by the European Commission in respect of management of European Regional Development Fund programmes.

Sadiq Khan: holding answer 12 March 2009
	Funding for ERDF financial corrections was found by a mixture of slippage, unallocated budgets and windfall receipts on a number of programmes, without loss of planned outputs.

Fire Services: Contracts

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Hurd) of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 108W, on fire services: contracts, and of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1635W, on Government contracts, who authorised the decision not to include the recommended break clauses in the regional fire control rooms contracts.

Sadiq Khan: There are three main contracts that CLG are responsible for in relation to FiReControl. Of these, the IT contract with EADS Defence and Security and the Facilities Management contract include appropriate non default termination provisions. These are in line with OGC Guidance.
	The RCC leases are structured as finance leases, to defer capital cost over the stated intended life of the project. This was done to maximise VFM through the use of a core public sector/government covenant to maximise the investment value of such assets over an extended period, and thereby reduce cost to the public purse. The insertion of break clauses, while feasible, would have reduced or removed the benefits of that covenant yield and, ultimately, increased the cost of the initial asset.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to implement the Pitt proposals relating to planning on flood plains; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government's Response to Sir Michael Pitt's Review of the summer 2007 floods was published on 17 December 2008. The response sets out what has already been done, and the further actions being taken, to implement each of the Review's recommendations. This includes recommendations 7 and 8 which relate to planning and flood risk. The Government's response can be viewed at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floods07/Govtresptopitt.pdf
	In our response we said we would undertake an initial review of the implementation of PPS25, drawing on information such as the Environment Agency's annual 'Development and Flood Risk' reports. This initial review has recently concluded. Communities and Local Government will be writing to local planning authorities to draw their attention to the review's findings and to emphasise the importance the Government places on reducing the risk of flooding to new development. The Department's letter and the findings of the review will be made available on the Department's website.

Freedom of Information

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 3 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1644W, on departments: freedom of information, what requests have been made to her Department under the  (a) Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 and  (b) Environmental Information Regulations since September 2007; and what the (i) FOI case reference number, (ii) nature and topic of information requested, (iii) request outcome and (iv) where appropriate, reason for exemption was in each case.

Sadiq Khan: I have placed the information requested in the Library of the House in four tables(a) resolved requests considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; (b) unresolved requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; (c) resolved requests considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004; and (d) unresolved requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
	Where the topic of the request as recorded on the database used for entering and tracking progress of requests exceeds the permitted maximum length of 255 characters, the topic descriptor has been abbreviated by the program.

Government Offices for the Regions: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 771W, on Government offices for the regions: expenditure, if she will request the Government Offices for the regions to publish annually information on the programme budgets they administer.

Sadiq Khan: As I said in my answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 122W, programme budgets administered by the Government Offices are the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for the relevant sponsor Departments. The Departments delegate authority to the Regional Directors to spend against their programmes, though all expenditure incurred is recorded in the accounts of the Department concerned.
	Publication of information on these budgets is included in the accounts of those Departments responsible for the programmes.

Green Belt

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much land has been taken  (a) out of and  (b) into the greenbelt, excluding land in the New Forest, in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: holding answer 12 March 2009
	Information on land taken in and out of the green belt is not held centrally. However, estimates on the total area of green belt land and the net change in that area for England are tabled as follows. These figures exclude the area of green belt land that was transferred to the New Forest National park in 2005. Figures are shown for each of the last 10 years for which data are available.
	
		
			   Area (hectares)( 1)  Net annual change (hectares)( 2) 
			 1997 1,602,340  
			 2003 1,624,280 3,657 
			 2004 1,630,890 6,610 
			 2006 1,631,830 470 
			 2007 1,635,670 3,840 
			 (1) Excludes the area of green belt land transferred to the New Forest National park in 2005. (2) Compared with the previous year or an annual average where the interval exceeds one year.  Source: Communities and Local Government Statistical Releases: Green Belt Statistics, England.

Housing: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many residents of non-coastal towns have been placed in seaside towns under the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme since the scheme's inception.

John Healey: Since 1998, 2,071 households, all from London boroughs, have been placed in new homes under the Seaside and Country Homes Mobility Scheme. The historic breakdown of figures between those moving to either seaside or country locations under this scheme is not available. Figures prior to 1998 are not available.

Housing: Construction

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many permanent dwellings built with private funds were started in England in each quarter of the last 30 years.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 26 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1542-45W.
	Dwellings built with private funds have been interpreted as private enterprise new house building starts.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether her Department authorised representatives of the Homes and Communities Agency to attend the launch of the affordable housing funding package by the Mayor of London on 3 March 2009;
	(2)  how many additional affordable homes will be provided under the Homes and Communities Agency's 135 million funding package for London.

Margaret Beckett: The 135 million package announced by the Mayor on 3 March contained two elements:
	(a) 93 million to unlock five stalled development sites across London over the next 12 months. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) estimates this will result in approximately 941 new affordable homes on these five sites; and
	(b) 42 million for the Up2U/First Steps scheme. The details of this scheme are still being finalised, but it is potentially novel and therefore may require ministerial approval before HCA funding can be committed.
	It was appropriate for the HCA to attend the launch event on 3 March to support the first element of this package (the 93 million to support development in London). The joint GLA/HCA press notice issued for this event indicated that funding for the Up2U/First Steps scheme was subject to ministerial approval.

Infrastructure Planning Commission

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her latest estimate is of the  (a) capital and  (b) running costs of the Infrastructure Planning Commission in 2009-10.

Iain Wright: In January this year we published an annex to the Planning Bill impact assessment which confirmed that the costs are within the margin of error allowed for within the original impact assessment and the estimated set up and running costs of the Infrastructure Planning Commission remain at 5 million and 9.3 million respectively.

Infrastructure Planning Commission

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the remuneration package will be for each member of the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Iain Wright: The Chair of the Infrastructure Planning Commission will receive 184,000 per annum based on a time commitment of four days per week (that is 230,000 per annum pro rata). The posts of deputy chair and commissioner have recently been advertised at 125,000 and 100,000 pro rata per annum respectively, for a time commitment of three to five days per week. None of the posts are pensionable.

Local Government Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to her Department's winter supplementary estimate for 2008-09, what the likely effect of the financial corrections imposed by the European Commission will be on the level of resources available for other programmes in her Department.

Sadiq Khan: Funding for ERDF financial corrections was found by a mixture of slippage, unallocated budgets and windfall receipts on a number of programmes, without loss of planned outputs.

Local Government Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the annual cost to  (a) local authorities and  (b) the Audit Commission of comprehensive area assessments.

John Healey: The cost of the Audit Commission's work on comprehensive area assessment will be covered, as CPA was, by income from fees paid by local authorities along with grant from my Department. My reply to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) on 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1547-48W, explained the annual costs associated with the comprehensive performance assessment including estimates for 2008-09. The Audit Commission published in December 2008, a work programme and scales of fees for 2009-10, and indicative fee proposals up to 2012 for new work on the CAA. This does not set out total cost figures for either themselves or for local authorities, but provides both the fixed and scale elements of the different fees for single tier, county and district councils of audit and inspection work.

Local Government: Carbon Emissions

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on the steps they are taking to reduce levels of carbon dioxide emissions; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The important role of local authorities in reducing levels of carbon emissions is often a topic of my and colleagues' discussions with local authorities and others, most recently in the context of the Heat and Energy Savings Strategy and Community Energy Savings Programme consultations, which the Government published on 12 February.

Local Government: Manpower

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing enforcement officers are employed by each local authority in England.

Iain Wright: The Department does not request this information from local authorities.

Local Government: Pensions

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to increase the retirement pension age for local government pension schemes in line with the planned changes to the state retirement age.

John Healey: The normal retirement age of the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales is 65 and there are no plans to change this position.

Local Government: Voting Methods

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the geographic scope is of her proposals to legislate to allow for  (a) remote voting by councillors and  (b) incentives for electors to vote.

Sadiq Khan: Our proposals on both remote voting for local authority members and incentives for electors to vote relate to England. In the other countries of the United Kingdom these matters are the responsibilities of the Devolved Administrations concerned.

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation: Business Interests

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1216W, on Thames Gateway Development Corporation Planning Committee: Business Interests, what reference was made to the Corporation's code of practice prior to the appointment of Mr. Alan Clark to the Planning Committee.

Margaret Beckett: Potential applicants for the role of independent member of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) Planning Committee were sent an 'Information for Candidates' pack. This described the role of independent members of that committee, and the skills sought. In addition, the LTGDC planning code of practice was part of the information pack. That code includes a cross reference to the LTGDC code of practice for board members.
	Candidates were informed in the information pack that any conflicts of interest would have to be declared in any application. The application form itself asked for potential conflicts of interest to be declared; a separate political activity questionnaire was also required to be completed.
	An applicant, if short-listed, would be questioned at interview about any conflicts of interests. If appointed, a member of the committee is required to declare interests on a prescribed form.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1756W, on mortgages: Government assistance, if she will place in the Library a copy of the results of the telephone survey; how the mortgage resale scheme is being publicised; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The informal telephone survey of 60 local authorities operating the Government's Mortgage Rescue Scheme was conducted by officials at Communities and Local Government on 18 February 2009. The exercise was intended to provide an early indication of take-up among a cross-section of participating local authorities.
	Formal monitoring arrangements for all local authorities are currently being finalised, and we expect regional data on the number of households receiving assistance under the scheme to be available from April 2009. Data on the number of completed rescues under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme will be published as part of the Homes and Communities Agency's annual reporting arrangements.
	The Mortgage Rescue Scheme is publicised as part of the recently launched 'Real Help Now' campaign, which aims to ensure people are aware of the support available during the current downturn and how to access it at the earliest opportunity. Details are also available on the Communities and Direct Gov websites and it is referred to in the National Homelessness Advice Service leaflet Are You Worried about your Mortgage? Get advice now, which has been widely circulated to national advice and support services. Individual local authorities have also published literature publicising the scheme in their area and there has been extensive coverage in national and local media.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if the Government will take steps to provide local authorities with greater powers to set business rates.

John Healey: There are no plans for Government to give local authorities greater powers to set business rate locally. The Lyons Inquiry into Local Government considered the case for returning business rates to local control. Its analysis concluded that this would not be appropriate at the current time. The Government agreed. However, Sir Michael Lyons did recommend introducing a new local flexibility to set a supplement on business rates.
	In October 2007, alongside the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review, the Government published Business rate supplements: a White Paper. The Business Rate Supplements Bill was then introduced in the House of Commons on 4 December 2008 and gives effect to the Government's proposal in the White Paper. The Bill provides the Greater London Authority and, outside London, upper tier local authorities a discretionary power to levy a supplement on the business rate and retain and invest the proceeds in additional projects aimed at promoting the economic development of local areas.

Private Rented Housing

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 644W, on rented housing: private sector, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effect of the use of credit scoring by landlords and estate agents on those wishing to obtain private rented sector accommodation who previously had their privately-owned property repossessed.

Iain Wright: We have not made any such assessment. The release of the results of credit scoring by landlords and estate agents would understandably be restricted by Data Protection issues. We would not expect landlords or agents to discriminate against tenants who had previously had their privately owned property repossessed providing the tenant in question had met the requirements of their tenancy agreement.

Regional Spatial Strategies

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to  (a) local authorities,  (b) regional assemblies and  (c) her Department has been for the production of each regional spatial strategy.

Iain Wright: Local authorities play a leading role in developing the regional spatial strategy, both as members of the regional assembly and as individual authorities. Information about the amount of resource they individually contributed to the production of the regional spatial strategy is not held centrally.
	Regional assemblies were resourced both by the Department and by their membership, which includes local authorities. Regional assemblies have a range of responsibilities which include preparation of regional spatial strategy. The breakdown of the use of resources for different functions is not held centrally.
	The Department provides an additional budget to cover the costs of Examinations in Public and subsequent publication costs for proposed changes to regional spatial strategy. During the past three years this amounted to 1.5 million in 2006-07, 1.4 million in 2007-08 and 1.18 million to date during the current financial year.

Sewers: Fats

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to publish the results of the joint research project with the water industry on the effectiveness of measures to control discharge of grease from hot food premises into drains; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Department have now received a final summary of the research and aims to publish it on its website shortly.
	The research was funded principally by the water industry and has enabled them and local authorities to be more confident in their enforcement measures.
	In addition, to get direct contact with potential users a technical seminar is being planned to inform environmental health officers and people who maintain sewers about strategies for mitigating nuisance from fats, oil and grease.

Social Rented Housing

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the policy of  (a) her Department and  (b) the Tenants Services Authority is on the use of cash incentive payments to social tenants to vacate their properties and move to private sector accommodation.

Iain Wright: The Department for Communities and Local Government expects local authorities to achieve the best use of their social housing stock in seeking to meet local housing needs. Cash incentive schemes can often be an effective measure, especially where family sized accommodation is in high demand, to encourage social tenants to move to smaller social rented properties, or to move into private accommodation. A regulatory reform order which allows local authorities to run schemes without the Secretary of State's consent, came into force on 1 April 2003. The regulatory reform order allows local authorities to set the size of grant payable to take into account the local housing market.
	The Government funded HomeBuy scheme helps social tenants to vacate their social home and purchase a home.
	The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) expects the housing providers it regulates to provide good quality housing services that are responsive to tenants' characteristics and circumstances. This includes being responsive to local authority housing duties and to national, regional, and local mobility and exchange schemes. Housing providers should promote choice and opportunity and must help to meet need.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of homes in the social housing sector which do not meet the Decent Homes standard in each region in England.

Iain Wright: The information requested is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Social housing stock summary as at 31 March 2008 
			  Region  RSL homes which fail DHS  LA homes which fail DHS  Total 
			 East Midlands 10,850 42,456 53,306 
			 East of England 26,085 27,896 53,981 
			 London 35,357 140,138 175,495 
			 North East 16,094 55,579 71,673 
			 North West 58,053 36,072 94,125 
			 South East 18,422 39,856 58,278 
			 South West 16,872 24,315 41,187 
			 West Midlands 11,639 50,799 62,438 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 31,195 72,334 103,529 
			 Total 224,567 489,445 714,012 
			  Sources: 1. Registered social landlord data from the Regulatory Statistical Return Part Q4 (long) Part Q6 (short). 2. Local authority data from the Business Plan Statistical Appendix. 
		
	
	Since 2007 the number of non-decent homes in local authority stock has reduced from 618,000 and from 254,000 in the RSL sector. The overall reduction in the percentage of non-decent homes in the social sector since 2007 is from 21.8 per cent. to 18.0 per cent. in 2008.

Stress

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what surveys her Department has undertaken of  (a) workplace stress and  (b) staff morale in the Department in the last 36 months.

Sadiq Khan: Since March 2006, the Department undertook a Health and Wellbeing survey, which incorporated questions on stress in November 2008. We have also undertaken the following staff attitude surveys:
	
		
			   Survey 
			 2006 ODPM Staff survey 
			 2007 CLG Staff survey 1(st) Tranche 
			 2007 CLG Staff survey 2(nd) Tranche 
			 2007 CLG Staff survey 3(rd) Tranche 
			 2007 Cabinet Office Employee Engagement pilot survey 
			 2008 CLG Pulse survey 
			 2008 CLG SCS Mini survey 
			 2008 Cabinet Office Employee Engagement pilot survey

Supporting People in Surrey Scheme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department has provided to the Supporting People in Surrey scheme in each year since its inception; and how much such funding she expects to be allocated to the scheme for the remainder of the 2007 comprehensive spending review period.

Iain Wright: Since 2003 administering authorities have been allocated funding through the Supporting People programme to support the most vulnerable people in their communities through the provision of housing-related support. The Government have invested over 8.7 billion since the programme began in 2003; and announced a further 4.9 billion funding up to 31 March 2011. Surrey county received a Supporting People programme grant allocation of:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 19,913,095 
			 2004-05 18,835,049 
			 2005-06 18,509,347 
			 2006-07 18,509,347 
			 2007-08 18,509,347 
			 2008-09 18,509,347 
			 2009-10 18,509,347 
			 2010-11 (1)17,900,356 
			 (1) Indicative.

Supporting People Programme

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1284-85W, on homelessness, what definition of housing-related support the Supporting People programme has; who the Supporting People programme aims to help; whether further expenditure is planned; and how many of the 40 court desks providing free legal representation at repossession hearings are available in courts serving Sefton and Liverpool.

Iain Wright: The Supporting People programme defines housing related support as:
	Support services which are provided to any person for the purpose of developing that person's capacity to live independently in accommodation, or sustaining their capacity to do so.
	The Supporting People programme's main aim is to help end social exclusion by preventing crisis and more costly service intervention and enabling vulnerable people to live independently both in their own home and within their community. The Supporting People programme helps a wide range of vulnerable people including: older people, victims of domestic violence, teenage parents, people with learning difficulties, the homeless and those with mental health problems.
	In December 2007 we announced a further 4.9 billion funding up to 31 March 2011 for the Supporting People programme.
	The Legal Services Commission has lead responsibility for funding court desks. Since 2008 Communities and Local Government have been working closely with the Legal Services Commission to increase coverage of this service by funding around 40 of the smaller desks throughout England. Communities and Local Government has offered to continue funding these desks in 2009-10.
	The court desks serving Sefton and Liverpool are funded by the Legal Services Commission.
	Court desks that provide free legal representation at repossession hearings are successful in avoiding immediate repossession in 85 per cent. of cases where people attend court.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate has been made of the take-up rate of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme; and what estimate has been made of the proportion and number of deposits that are unprotected.

Iain Wright: Over 1.2 million deposits for tenants with assured shorthold tenancies have been protected since tenancy deposit protection provisions commenced in April 2007. This has protected almost 1 billion of tenant's money. We do not hold figures on the proportion or number of deposits that are unprotected.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions in the last three years a planning application for commercial wind turbines has been called in on the grounds that it involves planning issues of more than local importance.

Iain Wright: Since 1 January 2006 only one application for a commercial wind turbine has been called in for decision by the Secretary of State. The application was for a single wind turbine at Mill Plain, Glyndebourne, called in on the grounds that the proposal may conflict with national policies on important matters.

JUSTICE

De Menezes Inquest

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has concluded its discussions with the Home Office and local authorities on the funding of the Jean Charles de Menezes inquest; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Many representations were received from the local authorities concerned and hon. members representing those boroughs.
	I am pleased to tell the House that an agreed sum of just under 2.5 million will be provided exceptionally by the Home Office in full and final settlement of the excess costs that they have incurred.

Drug Use: Prisoners

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of levels of illegal drug use by prisoners.

David Hanson: I keep the issue of drugs in prison under constant review. A comprehensive range of measures is in place to reduce the supply of drugs into prisons, with levels of drug misuse kept under regular review. The level of drug misuse, as measured by random mandatory drug testing, has reduced by 63 per cent. since the 1996-97 financial year.

House of Lords Reform

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent progress has been made in discussions on House of Lords reform.

Michael Wills: The Government are reflecting on responses they received to their 2008 White Paper. More detailed plans for comprehensive reform will be developed and put to the electorate as a manifesto commitment at the next general election. Comprehensive legislation would then be possible in the next Parliament.

House of Lords Reform

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he last met representatives of other political parties to discuss reform of the House of Lords.

Michael Wills: The last such meeting was that with the cross-party group on House of Lords reform on 9 June 2008, before the publication of the White Paper on Lords reform, on 14 July 2008.

Administrative Burdens: Courts

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to reduce administrative burdens on courts.

Bridget Prentice: We continually look for ways to reduce administrative burden so that court resources can be focused on activities that make a real difference to the public. We are currently implementing lean ways of working to ensure that unproductive activity is removed from all our processes. In the magistrates courts CJSSS has reduced the average number of hearings and therefore administrative tasks across the criminal justice system. We are also ensuring that more of our services from the civil courts are available online through systems such as money claims online and possession claims online.

Identity Cards: Ministerial Responsibility

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the list of ministerial responsibilities of November 2008, what responsibilities the Under-Secretary of State in his Department has for policy on identity cards.

Shahid Malik: My responsibilities have been to ensure that the Ministry of Justice's interests in relation to identity cards are communicated to the Identity and Passport Service, and that the Ministry's operational arms are able to accept the cards as valid forms of identification.

Prisoners: Education and Training

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to increase educational and training opportunities for prisoners.

David Hanson: Together with the Department for Innovations, Universities and Skills and, Department of Children, Schools and Families we have published a Green Paper and a follow-up Next Steps document setting out the Government's strategy on reducing reoffending through increasing educational and training for offenders, and are working closely together in two regional test beds to trial a range of initiatives focused on employment outcomes.

Inquests

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on his Department's plans to make provision for some inquests to be held without juries.

Bridget Prentice: At Second Reading my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor told the House that the Government were open to suggestions and amendments about these proposals. Many have responded to my invitation from both sides of the House.
	In consequence, we are this afternoon tabling amendments to fundamentally recast the proposals. First: the criteria for a Secretary of State certification will be significantly tightened.
	Second: The Secretary of State's certificate will trigger consideration by a High Court judgesitting as the coronerwhether it is necessary to hold an inquest without a jury but the decision will be for the High Court judge, who will be able to consider whether special measures with a jury would be adequate to protect the sensitive information concerned. There would be a right of appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Pleural Plaques

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  when he expects to publish the Government's response to the consultation paper on pleural plaques; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when the Government plans to publish its response to his Department's consultation on pleural plaques.

Bridget Prentice: The consultation on pleural plaques closed on 1 October 2008 and has generated a large number of responses. We are carefully analysing all the submissions received, many of which are detailed and complex, and will seek to publish a response paper outlining the way forward as soon as possible.

Secure Accommodation: Young People

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the availability of secure accommodation for young people in the criminal justice system.

David Hanson: The Youth Justice is responsible for commissioning and purchasing places in the under-18 secure estate. The board is preparing a new Strategy for the Secure Estate, setting out its plans for the financial years to 2012-13. It intends to issue a draft for consultation within the next few months.

Prison Capacity

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to ensure adequate capacity in the prison system.

David Hanson: The Government have a duty to protect the public from the most serious, dangerous and persistent offenders. Prison is the right place for these people and we will always make sure that we have enough places for these offenders.
	The expansion of our building programme following the Carter Review will see a net 15,000 places delivered, expanding capacity to around 96,000 places by 2014.

Community Sentences

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to increase public awareness of community sentences.

Shahid Malik: The Government are committed to increasing public visibility of community sentences, particularly Community Payback, through involving communities in selection of projects and offenders wearing high visibility community payback vests.
	The Justice Seen, Justice Done campaign which launched on 3 March, will further raise awareness of Community Payback and the policing pledge.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals below the age of 18 years have been imprisoned for  (a) less than six months and  (b) six months or more for breaching an anti-social behaviour order in each of the last two years.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	Information held by the Ministry of Justice on the numbers of antisocial behaviour orders breached shows that 986 offenders aged 10 to 17 received a custodial sentence for breaching their antisocial behaviour order between 1 June 2000 and 31 December 2006 (latest available). Of these, 753 received a custodial sentence of up to and including six months, and 233 received a custodial sentence of more than six months. An offender may have breached their ASBO more than once and these data refer to the occasion of the severest sentence received.

Citizenship

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to enhance a sense of Britishness.

Michael Wills: Since the publication of the Governance of Britain Green Paper in July 2007, the Government have been conducting an inclusive discussion on citizenship and the values that underpin what it means to be a member of UK society, through a series of online discussions, and local events. We expect to continue this discussion alongside the consultation on our Green Paper on a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, which we expect to publish very shortly.

Consultants: Expenditure

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much  (a) his Department,  (b) the National Offender Management Service and  (c) HM Prison Service spent on consultancy fees on implementation of the Workforce Modernisation programme in each financial year since 2006-07.

Jack Straw: Since its inception in October 2007, the NOMS Workforce Modernisation programme has engaged a number of consultants to assist with the delivery of various aspects of the programme. In FY 2007-2008 the programme spent 530,000 and in FY 2008-09 to end of January 2009 the programme spent 1.92 million, on consultancy services. In all instances, consultancy is only used to cover areas where in-house skills do not exist, is time limited and relates to very clear outcomes for the programme. Necessary workforce changes in NOMS will need to be implemented to support delivery of significant long term efficiency savings within the public sector Prison Service.

Courts: Repairs and Maintenance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the refurbishment of court buildings in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: The following amounts were spent on refurbishment of Crown, county and magistrates court buildings in each of the last three financial years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Refurbishment expenditure ( million) 
			 2006-07 8.0 
			 2007-08 8.8 
			 2008-09 24.0 
		
	
	The large increase during 2008-09 is due to the completion of major refurbishment projects during the year at the Royal Courts of Justice, and at the Crown court at Isleworth.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1703W, on departmental surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the most recent staff survey undertaken by his Department.

Michael Wills: I will arrange for a copy of the results of the most recent staff survey, the Ministry of Justice Staff Engagement Survey, to be placed in the Libraries of the House shortly.

Domestic Violence: Sentencing

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences related to domestic violence in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency resulted in (i) a custodial sentence and (ii) a community-based sentence in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is not available. Offences of domestic violence cannot be separately identified from other violent offences on the courts proceedings database, as only the offence is recorded not the circumstances of the offence.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prosecutions for offences related to driving without insurance there were in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008;
	(2)  what the average fine imposed for driving without insurance was in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Shahid Malik: The number of proceedings at magistrates courts for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, and the average fine at magistrates courts and the Crown court in England and Wales 2007 is shown in the following table.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  The number of proceedings at magistrates courts and average fine imposed at magistrates courts and the Crown court for offences of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, England and Wales, 2007( 1, 2, 3) 
			Average fine () 
			  Offence description  Proceedings  Magistrates' courts  The Crown  c ourt 
			 Using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks 299,559 194 204 
			 (1) Includes offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 143 (2). (2) It is known that for some police force areas the reporting of court proceedings, in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis unit.

Elections: Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 88-89W, on the Electoral Register, how much was provided by his Department to the returning officer in each local authority to meet costs incurred for administering parliamentary and European parliamentary elections in each of the last three years; and what the name of each returning officer was.

Michael Wills: The costs incurred by returning officers for administering parliamentary and European parliamentary elections are paid by the Government out of the Consolidated Fund under section 29 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1983 and section 6 of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002, respectively. Funding for these elections is not made available to returning officers on an ongoing basisthe Ministry of Justice is responsible for the distribution of the funding to the relevant returning officers for these elections, including by-elections, as and when they are held.
	The funding covers the necessary costs incurred by returning officers for administering the election in the area for which they act, which will include:
	the preparation and printing of ballot papers, poll cards and other election stationery;
	hire and use of polling stations and count venues;
	equipment needed for the election, such as ballot boxes; and
	postage and telephone costs; staffing costs.
	Returning officers are also paid a fee for their services in administering the election.
	In the last three years, the following amounts have been paid to the returning officers for the constituencies tabled for administering the parliamentary by-elections that have been held in those constituencies:
	
		
			  Constituency (date of by-election)  Amount (000) 
			 Blaenau Gwent (29 June 2006) 85.9 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst (29 June 2006) 110.9 
			 Ealing, Southall (19 July 2007) 148.6 
			 Sedgefield (19 July 2007) 120.2 
			 Crewe and Nantwich (22 May 2008) (1)66 
			 Henley (26 June 2008) (1)54.5 
			 Haltemprice and Howden (10 July 2008) (1)76.3 
			 (1) These figures are subject to final confirmation and may change. 
		
	
	No European parliamentary elections have been held in the last three years.
	The names of individual returning officers are not held centrally. Under section 28 of the RPA 1983, the duties of the returning officer for constituencies at a parliamentary election will be discharged by the Electoral Registration Officer appointed by the local authority (as acting returning officer).

Magistrates' Courts

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were sentenced in each magistrates court in England and Wales on average each day in the latest period for which figures are available; and on average how many such sentences were custodial.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is not available, detailed data quality checks are not carried out at individual court level, making the data unsuitable for dissemination.

Magistrates: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many serving magistrates there are in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency.

Jack Straw: The number of serving magistrates in Cumbria is 272 which includes the area of Copeland.

Magistrates: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many magistrates are needed in order to meet the needs of the courts in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency in the current year.

Jack Straw: In the current year 288 magistrates are needed fully to meet the needs of Cumbria which includes the area of Copeland.

Office for Criminal Justice Reform: Temporary Employment

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on  (a) agency and  (b) temporary staff in each financial year since its inception.

Jack Straw: The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) was established in July 2004 as a trilateral organisation reporting to the Home Secretary, the Attorney-General and the Lord Chancellor. It transferred to the Ministry of Justice when it was established on 9 May 2007.
	OCJR's spend on agency and temporary staff in each year since 2004-05 is shown in the following table. It is not possible to separate agency from temporary staff.
	
		
			   Agency and temporary staff 
			  Financial year  
			 2004-05 173,670 
			 2005-06 1,293,810 
			 2006-07 675,145 
			 2007-08 994,724 
			   
			  Year to date  
			 March-January 2009 452,954

Police Custody: Compensation

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many compensation claims for loss or damage to prisoners' property left in the custody of the Prison Service were made in the last year for which figures are available; and what amount of compensation was claimed.

Jack Straw: In the period 1 April 2008 to 11 March 2009, 130 compensation claims were made by prisoners in respect of lost or damaged property. 79 of those were filed in the small claims court. Information is not available for the amount claimed, but 49 of the 130 claims have now been settled for a total of 6,139. Claims made through the internal request/complaints procedure or through the prisons and probation ombudsman are no recorded centrally.

Public Consultation

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many public consultations his Department and its predecessor conducted in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The departmental annual reports published by the Ministry of Justice and by its predecessor the Department for Constitutional Affairs provide the following information on public consultations conducted in the last five years:
	
		
			   Public consultations conducted 
			 2004-05 (1)32 
			 2005-06 (2)29 
			 2006-07 (3)26 
			 2007-08 (4)30 
			 (1 )Department for Constitutional Affairs Annual Report 2004-05.  (2) Department for Constitutional Affairs Annual Report 2005-06.  (3) Department for Constitutional Affairs Annual Report 2006-07.  (4 )Ministry of Justice Annual Report 2007-08. 
		
	
	Between 1 April 2008 and 12 March 2009, a total of 31 public consultations were conducted by my Department.

Re-offenders

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent estimate is of the re-offending rates for convicted prisoners who served  (a) less than six months,  (b) between six months and one year,  (c) between one year and five years and  (d) five years and over in prison.

David Hanson: Information about re-offending rates cannot be provided broken down by length of time served. The Police National Computer database, which is the source for statistics on re-offending, only holds data on the length of prison sentence awarded, and not the length of time that an offender serves of this sentence. We do publish re-offending statistics broken down by the length of prison sentence awarded, as shown in the following table. This table shows the proportion of offenders re-offending within one year of discharge and the number of offences committed per 100 offenders, for offenders leaving custody in the first quarter of 2006. These are the most recently available data.
	
		
			   Number of offenders  Proportion of offenders offending (percentage)  Number of offences per 100 offenders 
			 Custody (total) 14,380 46.5 208.4 
			 Less than 12 months 9,103 58.8 282.7 
			 12 months to less than two years 2,028 29.6 101.9 
			 Two years to less than four years 2,013 25.9 80.5 
			 Four years and over 1,236 17.3 45.0 
		
	
	The latest adult re-offending statistics. Re-offending of adults: results from the 2006 cohort, were published on 4 September 2008. These indicate that we have had real success in reducing the re-offending of offenders released from custody. Between 2000 and 2006 the number of re-offences committed by offenders released from custody has fallen 15.1 per cent. from 245.5 to 208.4 offences per 100 offenders.
	Further information on the one year rates of re-offending can be found in:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm
	NOMS is working with the Ministry of Justice to review provision for the short sentence group.
	The Integrated Offender Management projects are testing a new approach to working with repeat adult and young offenders.

Restorative Justice

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the implementation of restorative justice schemes on victims of crime;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of restorative justice schemes in reducing rates of re-offending amongst adult offenders;
	(3)  what recent steps he has taken to assist the implementation of restorative justice programmes in respect of adult offenders.

Maria Eagle: Our assessment of the effectiveness of restorative justice for adults following the fourth and final report of the evaluation of the crime reduction programme restorative justice pilots is that it can deliver high levels of victim satisfaction and can be a positive service for victims if delivered appropriately and sensitively. It may also help to reduce re-offending.
	We have already published Best Practice Guidance for Restorative Practitioners, which provided the basis for National Occupational Standards, a benchmark for the quality of delivery of restorative justice. We have also produced web-based guidance for local criminal justice boards, Restorative Justice: Helping to meet Local Needs. The latest research findings, together with the best practice guidance and the guidance to local criminal justice boards, have been widely disseminated, including to regional offender managers and regional commissioners, so that they can be taken into account in future business planning.
	We are now considering what further encouragement we can provide to support the continued growth of adult restorative justice, in particular as a means of improving victim satisfaction with the criminal justice process. The National Criminal Justice Board has encouraged the local criminal justice boards to consider how restorative justice approaches for adult offenders could contribute to delivering on their priorities, particularly on victim and public confidence, and be included in their delivery plans. We are currently working with stakeholders, including the Restorative Justice Consortium, to develop a victim focused adult restorative justice strategy which will build on the learning from the pilots.

Supreme Court: Logos

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of creating the emblem for the Supreme Court was.

Jack Straw: The total cost of the design and development of the emblem is 26,200. This cost includes design and development by heraldic artist Yvonne Holton; redrawing and presentation to The Queen by Garter King of Arms; and development of the symbol in an electronic and adaptable format by design consultants. All costs are within original estimates announced by the Ministry of Justice on 14 June 2007.

Young Offenders

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when all pre-sentence reports for young offenders will include an assessment of the need for parenting support.

David Hanson: National Standards for Youth Justice set out what must be included in pre-sentence reports. These are currently being revised in preparation for the implementation later this year of the Youth Rehabilitation Order, the new community order for under-18s, with the scaled approach, the Youth Justice Board's new risk based assessment. The revision will require the pre-sentence report to include an assessment of the need for parenting support and whether a recommendation should be made to the court for a parenting order to be made.

Young People: Remand in Custody

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of detaining juveniles  (a) under court-ordered secure remand and  (b) otherwise remanded in custody was in the last year for which figures are available.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 361-362W.
	The Youth Justice Board have calculated that in 2007-08 the total cost of detaining young people under a court ordered secure remand was 19,218,653. This includes contributions from both local authorities and the Youth Justice Board.
	In respect of those young people remanded into custody there is no distinction made in the Youth Justice Board's service level agreement with the Prison Service between the cost of remands to custody and the cost of custodial sentences. However, based on the average costs of a bed in a young offenders institution and the average number of young people remanded to custody, the Youth Justice Board have estimated that the total cost of remands to custody in-2007-08 was 26.982,000.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Audit: Licensing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many auditors are licensed by each of the recognised supervisory bodies.

Ian Pearson: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform does not hold this information. I have asked the Director of the Professional Oversight Board of the Financial Reporting Council to write directly to my hon. Friend.

Business Links: Sutton

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many Business Link staff were assigned to the London Borough of Sutton in each of the last five years; how many  (a) contacts and  (b) cases were recorded by Business Link in the London Borough of Sutton in each of the last five years; what steps are being taken by Business Link to support business in Sutton; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Business Link in London (BLiL) delivers across London and does not structure its service delivery staff to cover specific London boroughs.
	The BLiL company has only existed for the last two years and data relating to previous years are not available. There are no data available for contacts other than when assistance is provided.
	In the last two years in Sutton the number of business support cases recorded by BLiL are as follows:
	over 2,000 established small and medium sized companies
	over 350 start-ups,
	over 1,000 pre start-ups
	1,200 people being given generic business advice.
	In addition, during the last two years BLiL has worked closely with Sutton's business community and strategic partners. These have included the local authority and the London borough of Sutton Employment and Skills Partnership.
	BLiL has also worked with the London borough of Sutton to help develop their 10-point action plan on business support and is actively supporting the implementation of this plan. This includes, the promotion of advice and support for small businesses. In collaboration with BLiL and Business Focus, the borough will hold surgeries offering business support and a diagnostic service.

Business: Advisory Services

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many agencies are funded by the Government to provide advice and assistance to businesses;
	(2)  what mechanisms are in place to monitor the accuracy of the information provided by business support agencies to businesses.

Ian Pearson: Business Link is the primary free advice and support service for businesses in England. Over 30,000 businesses have already taken advantage of a free health check. In addition to the extensive information and advice available, Business Link provides a brokerage service to more specialist support. Business Link is also the main access point for the new streamlined Solutions for Business portfolio, which brings together all publicly-funded support under an easily recognisable brand identity; and provides access to the specialist services of other organisations whether in the public sector, such as the Manufacturing Advisory Service, or the private sector. Business Link's directory of business organisations can be searched online. Businesses in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can also access local business support networks.
	The Business Link service in England is delivered by operators under contracts let by the nine regional development agencies. Business link services are delivered under a framework agreement that describes the range of services that should be delivered. In addition (www.businesslink.gov.uk) website content managers and lead policy Departments work closely, using formal procedures, to ensure all information available to businesses on the website is accurate and up to date.

Carbon Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the proposed timetable for the publication of the Government's low-carbon industrial strategy is.

Ian Pearson: At the Low Carbon Industrial summit, jointly held with the CBI and TUC on 6 March, the Government launched their vision for a low carbon future and a new interactive website (www.hmg.gov.uk/lowcarbon). This was the first step in a process of engagement with business which will ultimately lead to a low carbon industrial strategy being published in the summer.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Genuine sickness absence is not considered a disciplinary matter in the Department. Sickness absence is handled under separate poor attendance procedures. As such no staff have been disciplined as a result of a poor sickness record within the past year.
	No staff have had their employment terminated as a result of poor sickness absence in the past year.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices the Secretary of State has visited on official business in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: I have visited two post offices in the course of official business in the last 12 months.

Departmental Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what information his Department holds on the  (a) sex,  (b) ethnicity,  (c) age,  (d) disability,  (e) sexual orientation and  (f) religion or belief of its staff; and what assessment he has made of his Department's performance against its targets relating to diversity in its workforce.

Patrick McFadden: Gender and age information is routinely maintained on the staff database.
	Staff are able to individually record ethnicity and disability on the staff database, on a voluntary basis. Currently 79 per cent. of staff have chosen to do so. The facility to record sexual orientation and religion or belief will be added during 2009.
	Anonymised information on ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief is also collected annually as part of the Department's staff opinion survey and used as part of the assessment of the Department's performance against its targets relating to diversity in the work force.
	There are a number of metrics used by the Department to assess performance against achievement of the priorities in the Diversity Strategy. These targets include numerical representation of diverse groups within the senior civil service, the results of external benchmarking exercises and the results of specific groups participating in the staff opinion survey. The current Diversity Strategy was agreed and launched in October 2008 and progress is due to be formally reviewed in May 2009.
	Current progress towards targets for representation in the senior civil service is as follows:
	
		
			  Senior civil service diversity representation and targets 
			   1 April 2008 actual  1 December 2008 actual  1 April 2011 targets 
			   Number minority staff  Number of staff at Band  Current percentage  Percentage  Percentage 
			 SCS women 65 176 37 38 40 
			 SCS women PB2and above 12 41 30 30 34 
			 SCS BME 7 176 4 3 5 
			 SCS Disabled 8 176 5 7 6

Economic Situation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what  (a) summits,  (b) conferences and  (c) seminars his Department has hosted since January 2008 at which a primary subject of discussion was the effect of the economic situation on matters within his Department's responsibility.

Patrick McFadden: This Department's core focus is on business and economic issues. Face to face stakeholder engagement plays a key part in helping us to understand and tackle the issues facing different organisations as a result of the current downturn. It is not possible to provide a complete centralised list of all our work on the economic situation, as this is a broad subject area and could potentially cover a wide range of different areas of the Department.
	However, in terms of events hosted in our Conference Centre at 1 Victoria Street since January 2008, this Department has hosted three summits, 16 conferences and eight seminars at which the primary focus was the effects of the economic situation on matters within its responsibility.
	These pertained to a broad range of different issues within Ministers' briefsfrom small business to consumer protection and the automotive industry. It also includes inter-departmental meetings between Whitehall economic experts.

Electrical Equipment: Waste Disposal

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect of trends in commodity prices on waste electrical and electronic equipment treatment facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: No direct assessment has been made of the effect on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) treatment facilities of falling commodity prices. However, concerns have been expressed by a number of organisations about the difficulties in issuing evidence of collection, treatment and reprocessing of WEEE as a result in a fall in commodity prices and in particular a fall in demand for metal and plastics. To alleviate cash flow problems in the short-term, this Department has introduced interim arrangements to allow the issue of evidence for metal and plastics at the stage it has completed all the necessary treatment processes.

Electrical Equipment: Waste Disposal

David Chaytor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment for benchmarking purposes his Department has made of the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in other EU member states.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 5 February 2009
	The UK has kept in close contact with the European Commission and other member states in the development and implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive across the EU. No formal review of all member states' WEEE systems has been undertaken by BERR at this time.

Fire Services: Working Hours

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions Ministers in his Department have had with members of the European Parliament on the effect on retained firefighters of the removal of the UK opt-out on the Working Time Directive.

Patrick McFadden: The UK Government recognise that losing the individual's right to opt-out of the 48 hour working week as set by the Working Time Directive, would have a detrimental effect on the hours which firefighters working the Retained Duty System could be available for duty, especially the substantial numbers who work full-time for their primary employer. Many other workers also use this important flexibility and so we are firmly of the view that this right should remain. We, through Council, have pressed this point during informal conciliation discussions with the European Parliament and will continue to do so as the formal process begins later this month.
	I am aware of the widespread concern on this issue among retained firefighters, and both from this Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government have worked very closely with the Retained Firefighters' Union and will continue to keep them informed throughout the negotiations.

Furniture: Credit

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will take steps to assist the furniture industry adjust to the withdrawal of credit insurance.

Ian Pearson: This Department is providing a range of support to industry, including the furniture sector to help companies during the current recession. For more information see:
	http://www.real.helpnow.gov.uk/

Motor Industry: Government Assistance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the European Commission notified his Department of the decision to give clearance for the commencement of the proposed scheme for  (a) loans and  (b) loan guarantees for the automotive industry.

Ian Pearson: The European Commission approvals for Temporary Aid for the production of green products and Temporary Aid in the form of Loan Guarantees were received by BERR on 27 February 2009.

Motor Industry: Government Assistance

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the monetary value is of secured loans to the automotive industry which have been facilitated by his Department.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 6 March 2009
	The Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP) received EC State Aid approval on 27 February 2009. No loans to the automotive industry have yet been offered under the AAP. A seminar was held with industry and bank representatives on 11 March to explain the programme in detail and BERR expects to receive applications shortly which it will assess as speedily as possible.

Motor Industry: Government Assistance

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will assist the British automotive industry by introducing a programme of wage compensation.

Ian Pearson: We will continue to assess whether such a proposal can add to the real help we are already providing for industry and the people who work in itincluding the up to 100 million funding under 'Train to Gain' that automotive firms can access.

Motor Industry: Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will examines the merits of the introduction of wage compensation measures as part of training packages for automotive industry workers presently on short-time working.

Patrick McFadden: The case for the introduction of training and wage subsidies has also been put to Government by the automotive sector and others including the TUC and the Federation of Small Businesses. We will continue to assess whether such proposals can add to the real help we are already providing for industry and the people who work in it.

Motor Vehicles: EU Law

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will hold discussions with  (a) his EU counterparts and  (b) the European Commission on the implications for EU competition regulations of direct financial subsidies from the (i) French, (ii) German and (iii) Italian governments to their car manufacturers.

Ian Pearson: At the EU Competitiveness Council on 5 March, I and my EU counterparts and the European Commission discussed and agreed conclusions on cars and on the importance of action that is consistent with Single Market rules.

Regional Development Agencies: Non-Profit Making Associations

Margaret Moran: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what guidance he has provided to regional development agencies on their support for social enterprise in the current economic climate;
	(2)  what proportion of the support to small and medium-sized enterprises his Department has instructed regional development agencies to provide in the current economic climate is to be directed to support social enterprise.

Patrick McFadden: Social enterprises, both at start-up and when established, can access the full range of business support products available through the Business Link network managed by the Regional Development Agencies. Business Link does not directly deliver business support programmes but acts as an impartial gateway to all publicly funded and private sector business support. For the 12-month period ending 12 September 2008 Business Link helped 146,000 social enterprises. This equates to 16 per cent. of the overall Business Link customer base. The Government does not set RDAs detailed targets for particular types of expenditure.

Royal Mail: Privatisation

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many expressions of interest the Government have received on the partial sale of Royal Mail; and from whom such expressions have been received.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 13 March 2009
	Government have received a number of expressions of interest regarding entering into a partnership with Royal Mail. At this stage of the process only TNT has made their interest public. For commercial confidentiality reasons it would not be appropriate to reveal details on who else wishes to explore the possibility of entering into a partnership with Royal Mail.

Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many applications for funding under the Government's Small Firms Guarantee Scheme have been made by small firms based in  (a) Southend West constituency,  (b) Southend,  (c) Essex and  (d) the Metropolitan Police area of London in each of the last five years; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: For figures on the breakdown on SFLG loans made to businesses within each of the English regions including east of England and London, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1400W, to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alan Duncan).

Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many successful applications by small firms based in  (a) Southend West constituency,  (b) Southend,  (c) Essex and  (d) the Metropolitan Police area of London to the Small Firms Loan Guarantee were valued at (i) 5,000 to 20,000, (ii) 20,001 to 50,000, (iii) 50,001 to 100,000, (iv) 100,001 to 150,000, (v) 150,001 to 200,000 and (vi) 200,001 to 250,000 in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: For figures on the number of loans by value made under SFLG in the last five years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1399W, to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alan Duncan). Figures on loans by value are not sub-divided by region.

Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many projects have been supported by the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme in each region in each year since 2003-04; what the monetary value of the support was in each case; and what proportion of the total annual support provided by the scheme each represented.

Ian Pearson: For figures on the value and volume of loans made under SFLG in each of the last five years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1947W, to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alan Duncan). Figures on the distribution of SFLG lending across all regions of England for financial years 2000-01 to 2006-07 are set out in the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Annual Report to Parliament 2006-07. Copies of the Annual Reports are placed in both Libraries of the House.

TNT

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether  (a) he and  (b) his officials have held recent discussions with TNT on a partial sale of Royal Mail.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 12 March 2009
	This Department has had discussions with a number of potential partners for Royal Mail in recent weeks, including TNT.

TNT

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether  (a) he and  (b) his officials have held discussions with TNT on the General Logistics Service.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 12 March 2009
	This Department has had discussions with a number of potential partners for Royal Mail in recent weeks, including TNT. GLS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Mail Group and has been discussed in that context.